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The Only 



^OUSE ON WHEEL 



ADVENTURES 

: : : OF ! : ; 



THE LASLEYS ^^^jc 



Across America 



IN THE 



Only_ House on Wheels; 

OR 

Lasley's Traveling Palace. 



BY 

M. E, A LASLEY, 

Author of *♦ Sketch from Life's Book of the Mouse 
on Wheels." 



Price. 25 Cents. 



Howse on Wheels Publishing Company, 
Room 611 and 612, 150 Nassau Street, New York. 



Copyrighted by M. E. A. Laaley, 1899. 






INTRODUCTION. 



2859r7 — 

In bringing out this book the author feels it will fill 
a place untouched by others, the heroes of this book 
being the only parties that have crossed the American 
continent in a house on wheels. And having lived in 
the western country for last twenty-five years, he feels 
well acquainted with the country, people, resources, 
climate, etc., and can describe it in more truthful words 
than those not otherwise posted could do. Experiences 
of former years are also mtroduced as touching our 
present condition and showing causes leading up and 
preparatory to our successful trip. All figures are 
accurate or as near as can be procured. This book is 
of facts, not fanciful sketches. Sketches, j)ictures, ex- 
periences, etc., are from our journal noted at the place 
and date. This book is not a literary production, but 
historical and biographical. Eead, then judge. 

^^^^5^ the Author. 

TWO COPIES R^t-IVEO. 



^"' 4» ]m \ 



A3 lo ^ 



Across America in the Only House 
on Wheels^ 



CHAPTER I. 
A Home Love 5cene. 

** Say ; Tell me dear, why does there seem to 
be no mirth in you for the last few days? 
Have I done or said anything at which you 
could have felt hurt? You have tried to be 
cheerful, but I can see that there is something 
weighing upon your mind. Come, love, tell 
me, let me know all. Now while 'tis wet and 
disagreeable outside, come and sit down in the 
arm chair before the big fire, and while I do 
some mending tell me what causes you to look 
sad, even when you smile." 

The chair placed, the mother and loving wife 
in listening attitude, the father began : 

'• Well, I've been studying our condition over 
and over, and at last have come to the con- 
clusion that I must leave you." 



At this time the two little girls who had been 
playing in the adjoining room burst into the 
sitting room just in time to hear their father say 
that he must leave. It surprised them, and they 
broke into a plaintive cry : " Oh, papa, dear 
papa, don't leave us; don't leave your loving 
family ! " 

The father's heart was touched at this un- 
expected display of tenderness, and he caught 
his little girls in his arms and kissed them. 
The baby boy, asleep upon the bed, was awak- 
ened by their childish cries, and he, too, joined 
in, letting go one of those cries that only a baby 
knows how to, and soon lie had the attention 
of the household. The father seeing he was 
the cause of all this commotion, concluded to 
change the programme. He grabbed little 
Robert in his arms and danced around the 
room, catching the girls in turns — around they 
go ! The mother joined in song and soon the 
house resounded with love and merriment, 
lasting until bedtime, when after kissing papa 
and mama good-night they are soon snugged 
in their little beds. 

•'Now, mama dear, sit close by me and I 
will tell you more. Now dear, you know that 
I have worked hard and undergone many ha rd- 

4 



ships to make a home for my h:>ving family, 
and now we are about to k)se all, and not 
being strong I feel sad ; so, love, I give you 
my determination. I'll make a cart and go 
down into California, earn some money and 
then send for my darling wife and loving chil- 
dren.*' 

•"No, dear; I don't approve of your plan. 
Tomorrow I will give you a plan I know will 
succeed. Good night." 

The above and much more was a scene that 
transpired in a little cottage home of an hum- 
ble, honest mechanic in the frontier town of 
Port Angeles, on the Straits of San Juan de 
Fuca, in the State of Washington, late in the 
fall (November) of 1893. 

A Wonderful Woman. — A restful night spent 
and breakfast over, the active brain of the 
little wife sought to unfold a plan, the success 
of which has been beyond the measure of what 
was anticipated. 

''Now, love, listen to me. I will never con- 
sent to you going alone. I married you to live 
trifh you not away from you. Of course I 
know 'tis best to leave this wet country. You 
do as I plan, and all can go together. Build 
a house on wheels; get another house; wait 

5 



till spring opens, then we can all g-o together.** 
*^ Build a house ! " echoed the hushand, after 
the plan had entered his surprised brain, ''I 
can't; I've no money to buy a horse, and no 
mone}^ to live on this winter." 

The loving, determined wife insisted upon 
the adoption of her plan, and finally the hus- 
band, desiring to do the best thing, consented, 
and the details of her plan were talked over. 

"You go down to Dungeness (a farming 
place) and work this winter, and take your pay 
in a horse. I will support the family by taking 
in washing. After getting another horse [we 
liad one] then you follow my plan and build 
the house — the details I will give when you get 
the team." 

CHAPTER H. 

Tried and Found True. 

'' Hello, Mr. Ranchman, do you want a hand?" 

*^No." 

'• Do you know who does ? " 

"No, I don't." 

" Its getting dark," 

"Yes." 

" Looks like it is going to rain." 

" Guess it will or 'twill be a long dry spell." 

6 



'' Why don't you come to the point ?" 

" Don't see any point to come to/' 

'' Why don't you ask me to alight ? " 

*'You can't smoke here; haven't got my 
barns insured." 

''Plague take it !" 

'• Take what. Who did you speak to ? " and 
the excited rancher looked around, expecting to 
find a hobo near by. 

'•My friend, I am trying to get you to ask 
me to stay all night. " 

"Stranger, anything worth having is worth 
asking for ; but you may stay over night if you 
can eat our hash and sleep with our hired man. 
You can put your pony in the shed; you will 
find oats in the bin and hay in the mow ; find 
a trough and get the feed — help yourself ; then 
come into the house." 

"Draw a chair up to the fire; you must be 
damp and cold." 

"Yes." 

Supper soon being ready, an invitation to 
partake was accepted — cold boiled pork, boiled 
potatoes, corn bread, cold biscuits, sauce, pre- 
serves, coffee, tea, bread and butter. Supper 
over, my host says : 

" I say, stranger, can you read the papers ? " 



'•Well, I am a populist ; will you read the 
new copy to me ? " 

*•' Yes " (Paper all read) . 

*' I say, stranger, let me sell you a horse — got 
one more than I need." 

" Can't buy; I have no money." 

" Are you willing to work for one if you can 
get it cheap ? " 

" Yes, you bet I am." 

''You can do rough carpenter work, I sup- 
pose ? " 

"Yes." 

" Well, now listen. My name is J. P. Ander- 
son. I am a Swede. I am a leading farmer in 
this valley. I desire things not owned by my 
neighbors. I want a horse power like we used 
in Sweden. If you can make me one I will 
give you the horse. See ? " 

"Yes." 

" I'll board you. I'll make a sketch of it, 
then you make the power. O. K. See now. " 

After several experimental cuts and tries a 
wooden horse-power was declared satisfactory ; 
attachment made to cutter; oats, straw and 
hay cut up nicely. Anderson was very proud 
of his success, and handing me the halter to 

8 



the iiorse, saying, ''Now we are both satisfied. 
I have a new machine; you have a pair of 
horses [a team]. Good by," This was on De- 
cember 20th, 1893. 

My loving wife was not surprised when I 
came home witli two horses instead of one. 

'•I knew you would succeed if you would 
only try. My plan, you see, will be a success." 

CHAPTER II!. 
A Western Wonder. 

Now for our house on ivJieels. " Build it same 
as if it was to i-emain stationary, sills, floor, 
walls, windows, doors, canvas roof, side board- 
ed up and down." 

My Avife said: ''I desire to assist you in 
building our house as much as I can." So we 
took the cross-cut saw (a seven-foot one), ax, 
wedges and f rowe. We chose a nice white cedar 
tree. I notched it; then together we used the 
saw. In about an hour the monster of the 
forest lay at our feet. Discai'ding some thirty 
feet of the lower portion we got to the straight- 
grained part, cut out a portion, split it up, used 
the frowe and shortly h.id shakes (split cedar 



boards) for the sides and floor. The sills are of 
red fir. 

During- the balance of the winter, and be- 
tween jobs of mattress making and repairing, 
of vvdiich I did all I could get to do, and after 
serving twenty-two days as a petty juror dur- 
ing that term, of court, I succeeded in making a 
sure enough house, small but comfortable, 14 
feet long, 6 feet high, 5 feet wido, three small 
windows, door in two parts, closing independ- 
ently of each other; roof heavy duck; under 
part of roof and inside of the house lined with 
cloth, then nicely papered. 

Now came the tug how to couple it, so as to 
draw, knowing all other vehicles on uneven 
ground were subject to twists, and as this was 
nailed together could not stand twists, for 
three long days I studied over a new coupling. 
Finally the idea came, and a blacksmith was 
instructed to make the coupling of the best iron ; 
we put it on and completely attached the front 
axle to fore part of the house ; the hind axle we 
morticed into under part of the 2x4 fir sills. 
Not having any springs, no fifth wheel, no 
bolster on front axle, I placed the large wheels 
before and tlie small wheels behind. This plan 
made it easier to get in and out. 

10 



inside Fittings. 

"Now dear, you plan for inside arrange- 
ments." 

'' A sheet iron stove in the corner, just inside 
the door in rear on right hand side, then a cup- 
board for my cooking utensils. A spring slat 
mattress on hinges on wall on right hand side, 
extending to front; on left hand side a cup- 
board or locker for dishes and provisions. 
Then a folding table on hinges ; above this 
pockets for drugs, packages, spoons, knives 
and forks, bottles, etc. Under the table a box 
for tools — saws, hammers, wrenches, braces 
and bits, files, nails, bolts, nuts, tacks, screws, 
etc. In corner, a commode. In front end a 
largo box for clothing, extra bedding, books 
and sundries. A high chair for the baby boy 
and a rocking chair [for the wonderful, endur- 
ing wife]." 

"Being all completed on the 21st March, 
189 i, we moved into this only house on ivheels, 
sleeping in ifc to see how it would seem. Neigh- 
bors called upon us. We had a social greeting. 
They christened our home on wheels, " Lasley's 
Traveling Palace." 

On March 22nd we finished putting in place 
our clothing, medicine, tools, sewing machine, 

11 



^rub (provisions), fastened pictures Upoii the 
walls, sold off everything not needed upon our 
trip, converting it into a little money. 

The inside arrangements of our traveling 
pr:^,lace should be seen to be properly under- 
stood, being the most complete traveling outfit 
ever constructed for camping. 

The Poor Man's Home. 

They say that mine is an humble home, 

And they call us very j^oor ; 
Yet are the prints of the fairies' feet 

All over my sand floor; 
And I hear sweet sounds of mirthfulness 

That greet me at break of day ; 
And the fairies bright come across my path 

Ere I start with my house away — 

And when at eve I am safely camped, 

One fairy will slice my bread. 
And little ones will climb mj' knee 

For a kiss ere they go to bed. 
Then let them prate of their houses rich, 

Of their jewels and silver and gold; 
I have what is better— fairies bright 

Whose love is not to be told. 

The Start. — Everything being in readiness, 
friends gathered and shook our hands and 
wished us "good by" for the last time. The 
horses were given the word " go," and into the 

J2 



street (Fifth Street) rolled our now famous 
Western Wonder at two o'clock on Thursday, 
March 22, 1894. 

News Clip CondenGed. — "Lasley says he is gomg 
in his house on wheels to California, hut we kuow he 
can't get there. He is a rustler, hut at a job now he 
can't do." — Fort Angeles Washington Tribune, 
March 20, 1894. 

CHAPTER IV. 
Camp Life. 

'• Whoa, there ! " ('Tis growing dark.) '' Vi- 
ola, please unhitch the horses; Leona, you take 
care of baby Robert; I will gather wood for the 
fire and get water. I will water the horses and 
feed them. Mama will prepare supper." 

Stabling for our horses was found in a vacant 
barn of an absent farmer, and plenty of good 
hay given them, v/hicli they relished. The sta- 
ble found was half a mile from our palace, in 
which the wife and children were camped by 
the road side in the forest. The woods were 
very dense; many of the trees were 300 to 400 
feet high and the underbrush so thick that a 
deer twenty yards away could not be seen, al- 
though heard, in daylight. Wolves, cougars, 
panthers and bears being seen by the ranchmen 

13 



any day along the creeks. The creeks abouno 
with fish that they come to get. 

'• Papa ! papa! " 

*^What, dear?" 

'• Oh, I only wanted to know if you were com. 
ing. 'Tis so lonesome here in the Avoods with- 
out you," answered the light-haired girl of five 
summers. 

"Come in to tea dear; I have been waiting 
for a long time ! Quite a ways to a stable, 
is it ? " 

''Yes, and slow work in the dark. But we 
are O.K. now." 

With good relish we gathered around, and 
with thankful hearts partook of delicacies ob- 
tained from forest, field, water and homes, such 
as the seasons produce. Small game of al] 
kinds we feasted on at times, I killing it with 
my revolver (the Western man's weapon) being 
a good shot with it. Sleeping apartments ar. 
ranged for the night. The journal was written 
up by the father. Family devotion over w€ 
prepared for and retired to rest. Honest toi] 
bringing the sweetest rest. Washington woods 
have a death-like stillness, not even the hooting 
of the owl nor the cooing of the dove breaks 
their quietude. 

14 



An Ever Wakeful Eye.— A year bcjfore starting 
on this trip a neighbor gave us a worthless black 
run-about dog, saying, "If you can keep him 
you may have him." Seeing the dog vs^as young 
and of a good breed, I took him home and com- 
menced training him, fed him well and cared for 
him. He took well to us, developing fine traits 
as a shepherd dog. A better hunting dog or a 
sharper watch dog one needs not want. He has 
proven valuable to us on this trip. He loves 
the children, permitting no animal to come 
near any of them. He won't ride in the house 
unless compelled to. He is the only animal that 
has walked entirely across the continent ; he 
traveled every day about twice as far as we 
did, so he has quite 13,000 miles to his credit. I 
keep his feet in good condition so that he does 
not get lame. He is fat and sleek, admired by 
all lovers of that faithful friend, the dog. He 
is very intelligent and much loved by us. Noth- 
ing troubles camp that he does not know of. 

Slow Progress. — March 2S. — Having called a 
halt down upon a creek (Morse Creek) of course 
we had a hill to climb to get up out of the valley. 
Roads in extreme western Washington are upon 
high lands, as the bottoms are generally wet 
and marshy. Oh, what a hill I Steep, wet, 

15 



muddy, nearly a mile long. Horses were only 
able to draw the house a few steps at a time ; 
all had to walk ; Avif e had to carry the baby boy, 
except when I carried him a little way ahead, 
then resting until we got the team with house 
up to them. The road was only wide enough 
for our wagon, except at certain places where 
teams could pass freely. The timber and brush 
grow to the very edge of the road, and was so 
dense that we could not see into it ten feet, 
abounding with bear and cougar (mountain lion). 
It was not pleasant to be very widely separated, 
even on a bright day. The roads were bad 
(hub deep in places) and rough, and our first 
hill experience was repeated several times the 
same day. The road was so bad that at noon 
we only had five miles to our credit. 

Coming to the first ranch (farm) we were 
hailed by the owner, Charles Agnew. Said he : 
"Where are you going? Where did you start 
from ? How long have you been on the roa :1 ? 
How many are there of you ? Say, send tlie 
little girl over; got a lot of eggs you can have. 
Here are potatoes in this pit; help yourself.*' 

The child returned with a basket of eggs and 
a loaf of bread. 

And he added : "Put up your horses in the 

16 



stable ; feed them oats and chop ; just help 
yourself. " 

Dinner over, we thanked him, and he insisted 
that we stay all night, but receiving his bless- 
ing, we started forward. 

While hitching up the team three ladies and 
a man came from an adjoining ranch to see us, 
being the first visitors on the trip. Since then 
we have had more than a million (1,000,000) 
visitors. 

On arriving at the next ranch (Hoffman's) 
through the mud, they persuaded us to stop 
with them over night, which we did. And oh, 
what an abundance of good grub and lots of 
horse feed ! They tried to get us to sleep in 
their house but failed; we slept in our palace. 
We accepted their invitation to eat in their 
house. We had been all day at hard travel and 
only eight miles to our credit for the day ; 
team and selves tired. 

A Surprise at Breakfast.— '' I say, Lasley, 
you had a mattress factory in Angeles, had you 
not." 

'^Yes." 

'• I have a fine mattress that needs overhaul- 
ing; what is to hinder you upliolstering it for 
me today ? " 

17 



'•O.K. Just what rU do. I have with me 
all the requisites to repair with." 

At three o'clock the job was finished, and we 
again hitched up and were ready to start when 
Mrs. Hoffman said: "You have forgotten 
something." I went into the house to get it and 
she handed me $3.00, the factory price for doing 
the job. I offered to pay for our meals and the 
feed, but Mrs. Hoffman said, "we do not take 
pay for accommodation offered." The money we 
thankfully received, work being scarce. 

Again Among Friends. — Leaving Hoffman's 
with best wishes we pushed forward to Dunge- 
ness bottom. We hailed the same ranchman 
we got the horse of; he recognized us and in- 
vited us to stop with them over the Sabbath, 
which we gladly did. Going to church on Sun- 
day we met many old and dear friends. 

At the Metropolis. — At Dungeness wc learned 
that we could go no further, there being no open 
road, so we decidod to ship by boat. The beach 
is flat at this point; deep water is reached by a 
dock (wharf) 1,100 feet long. At this place is 
the mouth of the Dungeness River. When the 
tide is out a person can wade across the river as 
it spreads out over the bar; when the tide is in 
it will swim a horse any place under the wharf, 

18 



And oh, the salmon ! I saw a net drawn at this 
point, and it contained 2,200 salmon ! For more 
about fishing see chapter on salmon. 

The steamship Monticello coming into port I 
asked the captain to take us to Seattle. " Yes." 
'' How much ? •" '' $20.00/' '' Only have $18.00 
all told, must live, you know." "I will for 
$15.00." '' I'll give you $10.00." '' I'll take you 
for $12.00." ^' O.K.," said I. Arrived at Seattle 
at 2 a.m. ; on board till 7 o'clock, getting stock 
and house off on high tide. 

The papers heard of us being at the dock: 
reporters interviewed us; the following is a 
condensed clipping : 

Traveling in Pioneer Style. — A Family Starts in 
A Prairie Schooner for a Sunnier Clime. — A rig more 
resembhng a " prairie schooner " than anything else 
started from city dock yesterday afternoon on a long 
journey southward. The occupants were a wife and 
three children, while the husband, M. E. A. Lasle}^ of 
Port Angeles, rode in front and drove the team of 
horses. 

Mr. Lasley has been living with his family in Port 
Angeles for several years, where he has some real 
estate. 

He said yesterday that he had started for some 
country where the sun shone more than it did here; 
lie formerly lived in Colorado. The schooner was 
brought up on the Monticello Tuesday and is a unique 

19 



Outfit. It is notliitig more nor less than a small house 
on wheels. Mr. L.isley constructed of cedar a very 
ligflit but comfortable house, canvas roof, three 
"Windows, door like a hack. The interior is supplied 
with all the comforts of an ordinary home for the fam- 
ily on their journey. Lasley carries tools for repairing 
the house, mending the wheels, shoeing the horses, 
etc, and j^roposes to do his own work. His wife waS: 
much more anxious to start than he. — Seattle Post 
Inteligencer^ March 28, 1894. 

CHAPTER V. 
Our Family Autobiography. 

It may be of interest to the reader to know 
something of our former history; it will give 
some idea of the preparations we have had to 
accomplish such a trip. I will now give a con- 
densed history of 

The Queen of the Traveling Palace — Mrs. Las- 
ley. — She was born about August 25th, 18G6, in 
Greensburg, West Moreland Co., Pa. She was 
taken to Missouri when very young, then to 
Iowa, where she Avas left in the care of a very^ 
cruel family near Des Moines. She was beaten 
by tiie woman, knocked down, kicked and 
cuffed, lifted by the hair and ears, caused to stay 
out-doors with the thermometer below freezing; 
slept in the stable, poorly fed, bed a pile of dirty 

20 



clothes while the family slept on the finest 
feathers ; today she bears marks upon her per- 
son showing the abuse passed through. The 
woman's husband was a Dunkard preacher; but 
his lips were sealed, his life was not his own. 
Many a time he has slipped a crust of bread or 
a piece of meat into his napkin to give to poor 
Mary, who stood weeping outside the kitchen 
door. Finally the treatment was so hard she 
ran off to one of the neighbors, barefooted in 
the snow. They sheltered the broken-hearted 
girl; sent word to her folks in Colorado, to 
whom she was sent. Prior to nine years of age 
she spoke Dutch entirely; but the woman, Mrs. 
B., whipped the Dutch all out of her, until at 12 
she did not know a ^'':i\l of it. 

In Colorado she had a checkered life, working 
sometimes out and at others at her folks ; when 
out at work variety was her lot — some places 
good, others not. Her home life was never 
what a home should have been; her wages were 
never her own, others were benefited thereby. 
She tried hard and succeeded in her studies, 
both in school and out, and by dint of diligent 
application and energy succeeded in getting a 
good common sense education. Her maiden 
name was Mary L. Ambrust. 



We have learned indirectly that she has prop- 
erty coming to her, but it has been so covered 
up that she has not yet received her heritage. 
We get clues to it little at a time and may s^on 
be in a position to force things open. 

The Author. — M. E. A. Lasley was born in 
Gallipolis, O. My father's folks Avere Kentucky 
people; my grandfather was an associate of 
Daniel Boone. My mothers family were F. F. 
V's of the Shenandoah Yalley, of Virginia. I 
lived in Gallia Co., O., till I was 19; finished 
my education in the high school of Denv^^r, Col. 
Our foreparents fought alongside "Gen. Wasli- 
ington; and in the wars of 1812 and 1845, and 
our parents in the war of 18G1. If the reader 
desires to know more of the writer's history I 
refer him to our book, *♦ Pioneer Life in the 
West, or The Boy from a Buckeye Town," being 
a description of the West from the seventies up 
to now — range life, cowboy, herder, teamster, 
mill life, office work, secret service, teacher, 
athlete, hunter, guide, mechanic, merchant, 
politician, manufacturer and traveler — showing 
how a bright intelligent young man can adaj)t 
himself to all things in all places, telling wliat 
the West really is and what a person must be 
to succeed well. We can supply you with copies 



or they can be procured from agents. The 
book gives several love scenes in which the 
author took part — as to how I first met the girl 
that became my wife ; Avhere, when and how I 
wooed and won her; Avhen. where, how and by 
whom we Avere married I leave for the other 
book ; suffice it to say that Ave were married and 
some two years afterAvard our oldest child was 
born. I noAV introduce to you 

Miss Viola E. I., born to us on New Year's 
day, 1884, in the city of Greeley, Hon. Horace 
Greeley's temperance colony on Cache-a-la Pou- 
dre River in Colorado. Viola is noted for her 
excellent location, never has been in a city so 
large as to be any way befogged. She says 
blindfold her and place her in any part of Buf- 
falo, Cincinatti, Chicago, St. Louis or San Fran- 
cisco she could easily find her Avay back to our 
house on Avheels. Wher only two years and 
tAvo months old on several occasions she went 
alone from home down to my shop, distance 
nine squares (one mile), making turns around 
three corners. Her education has not been 
neglected. She does all our marketing and 
purchasing as a business training. History, bi- 
ography and travels is her choice reading. Her 
language is fine. We give both our girls lessons 

23 



at home. This trip is an educator that cairt be 
excelled. I now introduce to you 

Leona Arabelle. — Born to us Oct. 27th, 1888, in 
Pocatello, Idaho. On a lonely desert sandy 
plain the town was situated on U. S. land, but 
the Indians declared it to be on their reser- 
vation, and placed the town under Indian police, 
contrary to the desire of the whites. Many 
were maltreated, and finally an uprising took 
place; troops called out; a battle followed; 
several killed; a new survey was made wdiich 
demonstrated that the whites were off their re- 
serve. For a description of Idaho reserves, etc., 
see chapter on Idaho. I now introduce to you 
our only boy 

Robert Mauck. — He was born to us on Feb. 
loth, 1893, at Port Angeles, Wash. He was 
born with a veil. He is a finder of articles lost. 
Sailors say no vessel will go down with a i)er- 
son on board born with a veil. 

During President Lincoln's administration he 
thought best to prepare a defence for the Puget 
Sound country, so sent out a commission ; sur- 
veyed a town; sold off the lots of the present 
city of Port Angeles, being the first safe harbor 
on the Straits of Fuca, and the only harbor that 
sailing vessels can enter in all kinds of weather, 

24: 



and drop anchor without the assistance of a tug. 
Around this city he left a strip of land wedge- 
shape, half a mile wide at south end, six miles 
long and two miles wide at north end and called 
this Port Angeles town site reserve. Time 
l)assed till the summer of 1890, when the resi- 
dents thought best to get Congress to open this 
reserve for settlement, so people began to have 
it surveyed into lots and blocks to correspond to 
the town, to choose two lots 50 x 140 feet, clear 
off the lots, of trees, and brush, build houses on 
their choice and move into them. School-house 
sites, church sites, society hall sites, grave yards, 
etc., were chosen and used for purposes de- 
signed. Nice residences sprang up as by magic. 
Where a dense grov/th of timber grew in a few 
short months a city of 4,000 inhabitants stood, 
commanding a fine view of the beautiful harbor 
(3 X 5 miles, large enough for all our naval ves- 
sels to anchor in, if necessary), also a view of 
the deep green water [of the Straits of Fuca. 
By extending the view the city of Victoria, B.C., 
is in sight, its electric lights being plainly seen 
at night. It was upon Port Angeles reserve that 
our boy Robert was born, on U. S. ground, cor- 
ner of Fifth and Lincoln Streets. Afterwards 
titles to these lots were granted us by paying 

26 



enormous prices to the U. S. for them. On the 
lot where Robert was born was where we built 
our Traveling Palace. 

Having given you a short acquaintance with 
our family — they were born under circumstances 
and in places widely apart — a brief review 
of us from the time our oldest was born for the 
next eight years will be interesting. 

CHAPTER VI. 
True Western Life. 

We were running a general mattress and fur- 
niture repair shop at the time our oldest was 
born, and doing financially well. Afterwards 
we bought a house and lot, were progressing 
well toward paying for it. A second child was 
born to us, lived fifteen months, then took 
sick, got worse, had doctor after doctor for three 
months, up day and night, no rest; finally the 
wife took sick, our child died, wife grew worse, 
my mother assisted me to care for my wife and 
she got better. Following my wife's improve- 
ment mother sickened, grew worse, and at my 
iiouse, after linging three months on her sick 
bed, passed away at the advanced age of 75 
years. Nursing mother ctud doing for her my 
wife, not being strong, got worse, I tended 

2Q 



both wife and mother, not knowing which 
would live longest. After mother died, our phy- 
sician, with tears in his eyes, said: ''Brother 
Lasley, I feel sorry for 3^ou, God knows I do ; 
but brother, to be plain with you, I have lost 
hope for your wife; poor woman,- she is going to 
die unless — " " Unless what, doctor? You raise 
hope in my mind by that unless; pray tell me 
unless what?" ^'Unless you go out camping 
with her. I have doctored her for ten months 
now, and medicine will do her no more good. 
But there is your business; j^ou will lose that^" 
" Business be hanged ! " said I, '' If I can save 
my wife and regain her health I will go to any 
place or do anything for her." He assuring me 
health would follow, I made preparations for 

Our First Camping Out. — Sold my business, 
made a tent 7x7 feet, bought a pony, harness 
ana light wagon, made a wool mattress with 
waterproof extension cover so that no damp- 
ness could reach us from the ground, and when 
rolled up, folded and tied, covering prevented 
dust getting into our bed. Got a. small camp 
stove and cooking utensils, provision box and 
small trunk for clothing; arranged everything 
to fit into its proper place; put a good cover over 
our wagon, and with a few dollars in our pocket 

27 



we startgl on May 8th, 1888, from Fort Collins, 
Col., hunting for my wife's health. 

The first day she was not able to go far, three 
miles being all; the next day eight miles, she 
showing signs of improvement immediately. 
We put our camp stove on the ground and 
cooked (I did the work at the start); at evening 
time we put up our little tent and slept in it. 
We traveled through the mountains (wife im- 
proving rapidly) visiting Salt Lake City and 
places of interest, fishing, hunting, swimming, 
etc., till finally on August 28th we landed at 
Pocatello, Idaho, the place where Leona was 
born, distance 1,100 miles. When the Indians 
made war upon us we sold out everything, took 
the cars and went to Washington (wife in excel- 
lent health) it offering inducements to new 
comers. There I engaged in manufacturing 
mattresses and repair work. I skip the details 
of our trip intentionally, for it is one of the inter- 
esting chapters of our book, ♦♦ Pioneer Life in the 
West, or The Boy from a Buckeye Town," showing 
how we fared, the scenery passed through, the 
people met with, how we overcame difficulties 
in the way, animals that attacked us, fishing, 
etc., being exciting, pleasing and full of life. 

After being in Port Angeles some three years 

28 



we concluded to return to Colorado via !Rational 
Park, riold off personal property, took cars and 
came east as far Walla Walla, Wash. 

CHAPTER VH. 
Our Second Camp Life. 

Worked on a ranclio (all of us walked 30 
miles to secure the work) during spring, pur- 
chased team, harness and wagon, fitted it up as 
described in chapter on first camp life, only no 
tent, slept in wagon instead. Built wagon bed 
5 feet wide on hind wheels, 3 feet in front, sheet- 
iron stove, etc., as before told. On July 5th, 
1892, we started eastward. It came on not 
weather, wife sweltered under the heat (one of 
ihe hottest places on a hot day is Eastern Wash- 
ington), came to a fork in the road, one branch 
running south east, the other south west; wife 
called a halt. '* I can't stand this heat; let's go 
back to the Sound country." ''O.K., said I, 
and we turned westward arriving soon in the 
Cascade Mountain wilds, inhabited by wild ani- 
mals, toughs, road agents, and bandits. (The 
detailed account can also be found in our book, 
«* Pioneer Life in the West.**) Over the roughest 
road in America we reached Seattle, and then 
to Port Angeles, Wash., arriving Sept. 3rd, 

29 



1892. 1 again opened a mattress factory. In 
the winter I was sick several times with fever 
and general debility. Persons becoming used to 
the climate there will neve-r leave it and be con- 
tented elsewhere. Even now I feel myself long- 
ing to return w^here they have no winter nor 
summer — same clothing vill do the year round. 

CHAPTER Vin. 
A New Start. 

From Seattle with our only house on wheels. 
Being again on terra firma, we prepared to go 
forward expecting better roads; but we were 
disappointed after leaving the plank road of Se- 
attle. First the house would lunge down into 
one chuck hole, then into another. Towards 
evening it began raining; a high hay shed hove 
in sight; we got permission to drive under it, 
ixnd stop for the night; feed was procured by 
asking; comforts of camp soon formed; even- 
ing spent with visitors. who came to see us, and 
they let it rain. 

Clever Farmers. — Next morning being clear we 
pushed forw^ard, over Avorse roads if possible. 
At evening, by invitation, w^e drove under the 
shed of a hop house, again entertained visitors, 
and -e let it rain. 

Beautiful day dawn again. Roads somevrhat 

30 



better. We had been going up White River Vul- 
\cy. Dinner was over. We were approaching 
the small town of Auburn in high spirits, hop- 
ing we might find work to do, our money being 
low— $3.00. We tried to get work hut failed. 
This place though only 28 miles from Seattle, 
had taken us three days to cover that distance. 

CHAPTER IX. 
Clouds O're Cast. 

Entering Auburn, a man approached and 
hailed us. Said he: ''I am an officer; your 
team is attached; you will find them at the 
livery if you want them." He unhitched them 
and led them away. 

A Trying Hour.— The action of the officer had 
attracted the attention of the town loafers, bums, 
idlers, etc., who laughed at our misfortunes — 
"odd house, team," etc, This was too much 
for my poor wife. She, in agony of despair, 
broke down, and wept as only a woman can 
weep when she sees all her hopes crushed. The 
children, seeing their mother weep, commenced 
crying also. All this was trying to the husband, 
he turned, hid his face and wept silent tears, 
but only for a moment. He turned upon the 
crowd; "You will please leave; your presenc/^ 

31 



disturbs us." There was sometliiDg mag-i(^al 
ill the request; in a moment they were gone. 
Turning to his wife he said, "Come dear, 
cheer up; all will be well." Slie laid her hand 
confidingly upon his arm, saying, ''Right you 
are, love; I will try for your sake; but Oh, how 
dark it looks ! " 

The Cyclone Burst. — Toward evening a burly 
looking man approached us. ''Well Lasley," 
said he, " I have you in my clutches. You do 
as I say, and I'll release your team; refuse, and 
you can return to Seattle 20 days hence and hear 
my complaint against you. My advice is this ; 
I'll count the interest on the $50.00, add costs, 
the total I find to be $72.00. You give me your 
joint note and a mortgage on your Port Angeles 
house and you may go." (To the devil thought 
he to himself, as far as I care.) We accepted 
his kind offer, gave the mortgage and left the 
town. 

Facts Stated. — Leading up to the foregoing. 
We filed on IGO acres U. S. land as apreemptiou 
in Dec. '89 and commenced building a log cabin. 
The claim was Z^ miles back of Angeles. During 
January the snow fell deej). On Feb. 1 G I took 
a man (Ed. Armbrust) with me, packed over the 
snow our tools, grub, blankets, etc., and com- 

32 



tnenced felling timber, and in a few days had up 
a cabin 20x16 feet, roofed with clapboards, 
built upon the snow. A fire was built inside 
this cabin and the process of thawing out this 
block of snow and ice commenced, and the cabin 
began to sink. Strange to say, this cabin in- 
closed the one constructed before the snow fell. 

An Interesting Chapter might be written de- 
scribing how Ambrust and I set fire to a big 
tree, 8 feet across, burned it down and camped 
in the trench made by the tree burning; how we 
endured exposure ; how I fared after Ambrust 
returned to his home, staying alone accompan- 
ied by the lonely howl of hungry wild animals, 
depending upon God and my revolver for pro- 
jection; how I completed the house for the re- 
ception of my family, which I brought out on 
April 20, 1890, the snow having melted enough 
to allow a pack horse to be used. 

Funny Sketches. — Several times the horse got 
off the trail and I had to dig him out of the 
snow. It makes us laugh now to remember the 
grotesque figures we cut. Our pack horse 
waded in the snow above his knees, except 
when he made a misstep, and then, oh, such 
scrambling, reaching here and there to find the 
hard path; or the husband, who carried the 

33 



youngest child upon his hack. Indian fashion, 
would go down with one leg, then see him 
scr nble ! Or the patient, loving wife would 
have the same experience ; sometimes all of us 
down at one time. Oh, 'tis funny now to think 
of, but excuse us from further experiences of 
like character. In Nov. '90, we found a contest 
filed against us by one Fowler. 

Blackmailing: Scheme. — The purpose being to 
compel us to give him 40 acres to withdraw, sup- 
posing we had no money to contest with. 
March 1st, 1891, set for hearing. Not much 
money in mattresses ; by March we were out of 
cash, but a friend (John Murphy) gave me the 
money to meet the contest. The office decided 
I must have a lawyer and recommended one. 
(He had practised at Washington, D. C, now of 
Seattle.) He agreed to defend me for $25.00, 
thinking to get it dismissed, but if it continued 
then to carry it through all the courts for $50.00^ 
to receive his pay ivhen I got my title to the 
land. The Seattle Land Office decided that my 
proof should be allowed. 

Fowler Appealed to the General Land Office. 
After two years it was decided in our favor. 
He-then appealed to the Secretary of the Interior. 
Jn ^i^c. 1894 ^uf claim was affirmed. On 

34 



August 8th, 1805, I received word at Cor- 
inth, Utah, that I had until August r2th, 
'95, to furnish Seattle Office with $200 to pay for 
the land; after that date my claim would be 
cancelled. I asked for an extension of time. 
Seattle Land Office refused me; I appealed to 
General Land Commissioner, he refused to ex- 
tend ; I finally appealed to the Secretary of the 
Interior; he refused to review, so I lost our claim. 

CHAPTER X. 

New Openings. 

Having given an account of how we lost our 
home and our ranch, will again refer to our 
trip and pass hurriedly along. Through Pual- 
lup Valley; hop fields ready for twiners but 
ground too soft to walk upon; beautiful rich 
valley, but no work for us. Tried Tacoma; pro- 
prietor mattress factory said he *'had laid off 15 
hands ; no work for few left." We were at 
Tacoma on April 1st. Oh, the storm we en- 
countered — rain and blow. Then southtvard 
again, coming to Mt. Ranier, a station on S. P. 
R. R. ; stopped at store to buy feed ; remarked 
*^ could buy only small amount as money was 
short." ''Why not go to work?'' "Work;" 
echoed I; *'What at?" "Teaming, hauling 

35 



shingles', more work than can get teams to do; 
big' job^all summer." ''O.K.; but have no 
wagon." " I'll loan you wagon. You go over 
to my ranch for it, only six miles west; can buy 
hay three miles further west from there." I 
stopped. Next morning went for wagon and 
hay ; returned, fixed wagon up with rack. Next 
morning went to the mill, four miles. ** Yes, will 
give you 9c. per 1000 to haul to town and put 
on cars." Found 9 teams hauling — nothing else 
for teams to do. The roads ! (well, no roads at 
at all) mud hub deep. Eight thousand shingles 
made a big load over such roads. Teams in 
each others way. Some days two loads, some 
days one, other days none. Finally pay day 
came; in fact, they were preparing to close 
down and were shipping all they could before 
pay day. I got a tip to demand my pay before 
shingles left the depot. They seemed surprised; 
I insisted. They parlied; I threatened to at- 
tach — they paid me. The next day the manager 
and foreman took the trainload of shingles to 
JPortland, Or; and failed to return. The mill 
hands, teamsters and storekeepers attached the 
timber, shingles (2d class), bolts, etc. The mill 
was only rented. They ran the mill till bolts 
were used up; sold the shingles and paid them- 

30 



selves. 1 counted up my profits ; I put in 10 
(lays and cleared $0.40 all told. I then had 
gained experience and was ready for more. , 

CHAPTER XI. 
First Fording. 

Six miles southwest from Ranier we came to 
an obstacle — a river with no bridge, no ferry. 
We unhitched a horse, mounted to his back and 
plunged into the turbulent water, swift and 
muddy, bottom full of holes, some very deep. 
Finally, after plunging round up and down, de- 
cided to try, so quartered house up stream, the 
water came into the house, but steadily we 
neared the opposite bank. Other teams ap- 
proached but turned back, not willing to brave 
it. We were all thankful when we reached the 
top of the opposite bank, preparatory to climb- 
ing broken hills underlaid with coal and build- 
ing stone — the best in the West. 

We rested over Sunday and enjoyed the hos- 
pitality of Western people, (unknown in the 
East,) being entertained with strains of sweet 
music, both vocal and instrumental; listened to 
declamations, etc., ate at their table and had a 
general fine time. The following- days brought 
no changes, roads in timber bad ; on prairie, fine. 

37 



CHAPTER XII. 
Classified Experience No. I. 

Plank road 18 miles. For the last 10 hours we 
had been in mud knee deep, team tired out, 
crossed a set of divide hills approaching Cow- 
litz River, in woods, growing dark, road slump- 
ing, all of us tired and weary, when a crash 
came, a scream of a child, and all was still, ex- 
cept for the sobbing of a woman. The wheel 
on lower side had broken. The house lay over 
on its side. With superhuman strength the 
father liberated the mother and children, un- 
hitched the team, placed bedding and children 
upon tliem, went forward three miles and found 
a barn, fed team hay, and we slept in the mow. 
The farmer, Wm. Boon (aged 72 years), next 
morning was surprised to see us, but after ex- 
plaining the situation to him he treated us very 
kindly taking the family into his house and fed 
them. I went back and brought forward the 
house on skids ; he kindly gave me repairs, 
showed me now to refill the wheel and set the 
tire, making my first of the kind. I did some 
mattress work for him, taking flour, bacon, po- 
tatoes, lard, beans, onions, dried fruit, coffee 
and tea for my pay. Resting over Sunday, we 
were again ready to start forward. With tears 

38 



in his eyes he bade us good by, and hoped to 
meet us in heaven. Approaching Cowlitz Riv- 
er the roads improved. At evening we camped 
upon the grassy bank of that beautiful river. 
The flat-bottomed boats came up from Portland 
to several miles above where we were encamped, 
bringing in merchantable goods, machinery, 
etc., returning with shingles, hay, hops, corn, 
potatoes, beef, stock, horses, hogs, sheep, game, 
lumber, coal, plaster, gypsum, charcoal, pottery 
clay, molasses, wheat, oats, dried and green 
fruits, poultry, eggs, butter and oheese. Whila 
we were camped there that eve a beautiful 
steamer hove in sight and soon then a line 
ashore ; stopped and took on a load of hay, 
wheat and oats for Portland. We asked the 
captain how much would take us down to Port- 
land. '' $20," said he. Not liaving the $20 con- 
cluded not to ship. 

Experience No. 2. 

Hopes Brightened. — In the morning a farmer (an 
Irishman) called. Said he: '*! can get you 
work." '^ O.K.," said I. *' Come,*' said he. So 
back on the road we went to his ranch, three 
miles on foot through fields and over hills, took 
took his boat and crossed the river, then three 
miles further. The farmer was plowing at a 

39 



place a mile still further. " Well, Charles, IVe 
brought you a hand, as you told me to." ''Am 
sorry," replied he, ''wife's away on a visit, 
mother's down sick, siste.r's getting ready to be 
married, the boys gone fishing. I can't do the 
cooking so can't take hand now. I need one, 
sure. Plowing not done, got lots of wood to 
chop, crops to put in, fences to build, lots of 
cows to milk, butter to make, etc. Am sorry, 
Mike, but can't make room just now. In a 
month or so — shall Vv^ant one then, sure. Good 
day." We returned to Mike's ranch at noon. 
His man Friday had dinner ready. " Let's eat," 
said he. Dinner over. "Here, take these," — 
canned preserves, 5 pounds butter, 2 loaves of 
bread, raddishes, onions, lettuce, dried fruit 
and dried corn. " There, your trip shall not be 
for nothing; if I had more you should have it ; 
success on your journey. Good by." It was 
growing late in the day when tired I reached 
our House on Wheels. The farmer where we 
camped said, " 'Tis grown late in the day; stay 
now till morning." We did. 

The Tug of War. — Ready early and forward. 
Road less used and unworked, the cuts narrow 
and the holes deep. Arriving in a cosy nook in 
an open bottom, we came to a fine farm well 

40 



Cultivated, beautiful house, well kept lawn^ 
flowers, etc. Counted 22 hands. Now I'll get 
work. Found the owner ; asked for work. He 
said : *' U: • I have more hands than I can use to 
to advantage. But come here ; put this sack of 
flour on your shoulder, and this side of meat 
may come handy." ''Yes, 'tis a nice place. I 
have 72 acres of hops, largest single hop farm in 
the State." Companies own larger, but no one 
man. This farmer's name was Mr. Paterson. 

Three miles below we came to C. P. R. R. sta- 
tion and post office. Old stage station before 
R. R. came, now wagon road was abandoned 
over the mountain, not been a team over it in 
7 years, washed out, bridges gone, trees down 
across roads, etc. 

Experience No. 3. — A Perilous Ride. 

Said ranchman : ' ' You can't go over that wa}' ; 
will have to ship by cars or by boat." " Can't, 
no money. I'll try the mountain." " You may 
die trying, but you can't go with that rig. 
Team balky, a'nt they ! " '' Yes. " '' Never can 
get over. I've lived here 40 years. I know " 
'• Can't never did anything; I'll try it." '• Well 
go, you fool; you will soon come back." 

Two wood-choppers seeing us determined to 

41 



go, said they would go along for company rather 
than walk the R. R. They carried about 30 
pounds of grub J I said, ^'Put your pack in- 
side, I can haul it." *' Thanks." Up, down, 
up, up, down; over, across^ up, up, up, down; 
up, down, up; cut trees out of way, filled up 
washes, rolled stones out of way, made tempor- 
ary trestles, etc., and finally started down Mt. 
Pomfry. The further the steeper. A wash in 
the road, shallow and narrow at first grew 
wider and deeper. One man took the children 
and walked ahead down the mountain. He said 
he *^ dared not look at the house, expected to 
hear it go tearing down the mountain." The 
other man walked behind and said he, " I held 
my breath for fear; at places the washout was 
8 feet deep under your house." I rode, held the 
brake with ni}^ foot and talked encouragingly 
to my team. One misstep or blunder and ovei 
we would have gone. Finally we appoached 
the bottom of the grade, and oh, horrors! the 
road had slipped doivn into the river! The 
wash had opened wider. Timber on both sides ; 
nothing to do but make a square turn on the 
very brink, and it a sidling one. One slide, 
slip or fall and house, team and self go over the 
brink 80 feet below ! 

42 



My voice trembled, the man behind hid to 
keep from seeing me go over ; the man ahead 
cried, "Stop, don't try!*' I held firm to my 
team, "Steady! s-t-e-a-d-y ! s-t-e^-a-d-y !". 
My little loving wife looking around with a 
cheery voice, cried out, "Oh, you'll make it! 
Come on ! Come on ! " and she came back a few 
steps. The horses seeing her surged and set 
the house back upon it wheels, it toppled, she 
ran and threw her weight upon the upper 
wheels and saved it going over; the point pass- 
ed, we stopped around the curve. I procured 
n\y rope and tied the house to a tree, the wife 
holding it while I steadied it a few feet further, 
then ^danger was passed. A few rods ahead 
a tree 5 feet across had blown down, leaving 
trunk hanging on top of stump. The old road 
went under. I measured the height and found 
I had a foot more house than room, stone ledge 
under tree, only way to pass was between tree 
and bluff, had a foot more bank than width of 
wheels; fastened wheels to stump and slid 
house around it, then down again. Finally the 
bank was too steep ; my nerves too tried, so tied 
rope to back axle of the house and around stump 
and lowered it; wife steered the front. (See 
illustration.) One man was down the mountain 

43 



with children, the other had gone only to appear 
when the bottom was reached. The plucky wife, 
Viola and I got the house down as best we could. 

Experience No. 4. — A New Enemy. 

Reaching the bottom, a stream was to be 
forded, w^ater 2 feet deep and full of large boul- 
ders, but we got cross all right. On trying to 
ascend the bank our Dungeness horse refused to 
pull. After trying several times in vain, the 
banks being so steep, the horse came off his 
feet and slid backwards into the stream. While 
trying to get out a runner came down the creek 
crying, '"Look out for the water; the dam is 
cut ! " New energy was put into us ; new ideas. 
The men said, '* You're gone! " Again my rope 
came into play. Tying the rope around the big 
horse's neck, then up the bank and around a 
stump, I gave the word, ^'Try again!" The 
big horse lunged, I took up the slack, we blocked 
the wheels. Again a Innge, slack taken, pro- 
gress slow but sure, continuing till top was 
reached. We were up and out of the way when 
the rush of water, logs, brush, stone, and trees 
came dashing down where we were but a few 
short minutes before ! We were very thankful 
we escaped, 

U 



The Men Left Us. — They had accompanied us 
to where they were making shingle bolts anc^ 
cord wood. In our excitement we forgot to 
learn their names ; an exchange of courtesies 
and we parted. Very tired indeed we were that 
night. We felt discouraged and down-hearted, 
knowing what we had gone over, and still being 
in the mountains did not know what was before 
us. The next morning opened fine, our courage 
was renewed and we were ready for 

The Battle of the Day. — We encountered a 
windfall, big timber lay every way, and finally 
a tree 8 feet thick lay across our road, and lying 
across others it hemmed us in. Examining it, 
we found that by cutting criss-cross, round 
through the timber, here a small log, there a 
small tree, we could get through. This monster 
lay across our path, but its size had diminished. 
We were 200 feet from the road, and the tree 
was only 22 inches through. Taking my ax and 
saw we cut our way through, and some 3 hours 
afterward were again on the old road, tired and 
sore. In the evening we arrived at Sandy Bend, 
on the Cowlitz River — horses played out, har- 
ness broken, grub getting low. money gone. 

Work Procured on a hay baler — it was hard 
and dusty, wages $1.25 and board, took part 

45 



pay in hay for our team; worked till hay baling 
was through then looked for other employ- 
ment. Cash received for baling $8.10. 

Young Ferry Woman. — The Cowlitz River is 
narrow but deep, few regular ferries and far 
apart, but one place a traveler is sure of getting 
across day or night, that is at Nelsons across 
from Sandy Bend. The family is large in num- 
ber but small in size, the oldest being girls, one 
a Miss Nelson, is the boatman, she can handle a 
row boat to perfection, she is of fine form, beau- 
tiful to look upon, a fine conversationalist Says 
she "can swim like a duck, and has saved sev- 
eral persons from drowning." Is an excellent 
shot with a gun ; can drive a team or play an 
organ ; play croquet or be a coquet — is truly a 
Western girl. 

The Columbia was on a bender, and higher 
and higher it came, cutting off all chance of 
going forward by flooding the bottoms. 

A shingle mill offered me a job at bolt haul- 
ing. Having some experience (see Chapter X, 
page 36) I looked with suspicion upon it, but 
being the only chance I fitted up and began. 

The Old Song.— From May 18 till the 2Gth, 
Down the roughest hills, 15 bolts making a cord. 
I hauled 28 to 30 at load at 75c per cord 2 loads 

46 



per day, in a week I made $21.25, and demanded 
my cash. He was surprised. Said he ''I have 
no cash to pay you, provisions only" (at high 
prices). Being trapped we waited, using horse 
feed and our grub on the bill. On June 14 de- 
cided not to wait longer, demanded a due bill 
and received it, got the captain of a river 
steamer to accept it and give us passage, with 
our outfit, to Portland, Or., and allow us $1.40 
extra cash. 

Experience No. 5. — A Cyclone. 

While killing time waiting, I Avas reading to 
my wife, in the shade of a beautiful tree, when 
suddenly the sky became overcast, darkness 
came on rapidly, a mighty roar in the distance, 
then all was still as death. Chickens ran to 
cover, hogs began to squeel, dogs commenced to 
howl — a mighty storm was coming down upon 
us. My wife cried, "Our children!" Said I, 
*' 'Tis too late ! They're at a neighbor's, half a 
a mile away. We must seek shelter ! " Grab- 
bing up our boy, Robert, wife and I sought shei- 
ter in a low log shed against a high bank. The 
storm broke, blackness prevailed, leaves, dirt, 
sand, boards and debris flew everywhere; the 
noise was deafening, the roar of falling timber 
and crashing houses was terrible to listen to. 

47 



When it passed the sight ^as terrorising to 
look upon — trees 3 feet across broken like pipe 
steins and barns destroyed. We were in a pro- 
tected place.; where the storm spent its fury 
was about 200 feet from us. 'No one happened 
to be killed. Our tv^o girls were safe ; we were 
thankful. 

High Water and Our Boat Ride. — June is the 

time the snow causes the Columbia to rise. 1894 

saw the highest water ever known there, both 

river bottoms w re covered deep with water and 

mud. One })Uxce on the Columbia the water 

was over 20 miles across i:. Looked queer to us 

to see barns 60 to 100 feet square fastened with 

stout hawsers (rope) to great trees to keep them 

floating away; large brick and stone build- 

• o^ you could see only the windows of the 

stories; frame houses were roped like the 

barns to keep from straying. We saw one large 

barn being towed up the Columbia by two big 

tug boats; it had gone astray about 60 miles. 

Arriving in Portland, Or., we were landed on 
2d Street — a temporary landing place. 

Experience No. 6. — A Sorrowful Sight. 

The ridiculous things sometimes amuse; we 
laugh at the commotion we created upon the 

48 



streets of Portland. Driving along one of their 
u venues to pass a team it caused us to get on 
sideling part, and down went one corner of 
our house. Quickly dismounting, discovered 
same wheel broken down as before described at 
Boone's. A curious crowd gathered to see ; my 
brave little wife could not refrain from tears; 
broken wheel, among strangers, not cash enough 
to get wheel repaired, crowds poking fun, etc. 
Finally she became her composed self again, 
and we turned to with a will and removed our 
house to a by -street, began fixing the wheel up, 
when a fine looking man appeared. Said he 
"Don't bother yourself about your break-down 
this evening. I'll call on you at 7 in the morning 
and we'll see what is the best to do." Also spoke 
a few kind words to my family. 

Saturday June i6, 7 A. M. — We rose early, the 
stranger came. Said he, "Follow me." I did, 
telling family "I would be back when I re- 
turned. " Down streets, round corners, over tres- 
tles, arrived at a wheelwright's. Said he, 
"William; here is a man who has a broken 
wheel; give him an old one, can't you ? Go in," 
said he, "look over those in that room; if you 
find one bring it out." I found a good one, 
brought it, and asked the price. Said he, "My 

49 



friend tells me your situation. You can have 
the wheel freely. No thanks at all, you are 
welcome to it." After showing me how to re- 
turn, my benefactor departed; both refused to 
tell me their names. The wheelwright's name 
I could not get; the other one I learned was a 
Populist, a Christian, a member of the Metho- 
dist Church, and his name W. F. Miller. By 
noon we were again ready to go forward. Just 
as we were starting we had 

A New Encounter. — An expressman hailed us. 
Said he, "I am directed to deliver these gro- 
ceries to you." I said there was a mistake. 
*'No, no!" said he, ''Order said 'House on 
Wheels.' I'm right, they're for you." I said I 
had not ordered any. "Never mind, they're 
paid for." We took them thankfully, from 
whom we never knew, but surmise that this 
Mr. W. F. Miller knew who paid for them. 
Flour, bacon, sugar, beans, coffee, tea, cheese, 
crackers, dried fruits, etc. 

Experience No. 7. — fliraculous Escape. 

Tuesday, June 19. — From Portland we 
learned there were two roads south — the hill 
and the valley. We were misdirected and took 
the hill road to our sorrow. While traveling 

50 



the lulls, over stoiies, etc., the children were 
playing, romping in our house on wheels — a 
scream! I heard a thud; I suddenly tightened 
the reins, checked the horses, sprang from my 
seat. Oh, horrors! My child, Leona, had fallen 
backwards out of tlie door (wliich was then on 
the left side of the house). There she lay, right 
before the hind wheel ! Taking in the situation 
at a glance I leaped to her rescue in time to 
grasp the wheel with one hand and my child 
with the other, stopping the wheel and drawing 
my own from sure death! ''Thank God!" 
came involuntarily from our lips. I lifted her 
in my arms and again mounted my seat. The 
wheel only bruised the flesh, turning it black. 
By rubbing her back I removed all the soreness 
and she was soon lierself again. 

Experience No. 8. — Our First Audience. 

There is one thing that impresses our memory 
that can't be erased On Wednesday, June 20th, 
following the main traveled road, we came di- 
rectly upon the main street of Oregon's capital 
(Salem). I leaned out and asked for the road to 
Eugene. I stopped to hear the answer, and ere 
we could start were captured by people curious 
to know our history, etc. I bore up under the 

51 



gaze and questions well; my wife and family 
closed the door and blinded the windows, refus- 
ing to be inter vieAved. It looked queer to us to 
see bankers, merchants, brokers and clerks hat- 
Jess around us, a motley set, indeed. Next day 
the papers told of our Traveling Palace. 

For the Sunny South. — Considerable excitement 
was caused last week by the appearance on Commercial 
Street of a house on wheels. The conveyance belonged 
to Mr. Lasle}^ who is moving his wife and three chil- 
dren from Port Angeles to Southern California. 

The house is j^erfect, fitted with doors and windows. 
That it is the most convenient mode of traveling can- 
not be doubted after a glance inside — stove always up, 
house plants entwined about, beds and table folded 
up, as a palace sleeping and dining car. While the 
husband drives the team, the wife prepares the food 
within, so that when the halt is made nothing is to be 
done but raise the table and take the dinner from the 
stove. It is original with Mrs. Lasley, and is a good 
pattern for others to copy after. — -Salem Independent^ 
June 21st, 1884. 

Experience No. 9. — A Funeral Averted. — 
Saturday, June 23d. — My wife asked to ride 
along side of me, on the drivers seat. '"Tis 
narrow, but I would like to try while the roads 
are level.'* I said, " Yes." Said she, " Let me 
drive; you hold our boy." When crossing one 
of those small culverts placed diagonally across 

53 



the road (a blessing Oregon liar; lots of) the 
house lurched sidewise; throwing my wife off 
against the nigh horse, and. under the fore wheel. 
In falling she had carried the lines with her, so 
I had no way of stopping the team. I gave them 
them the word to stop, the wheel had rolled 
upon her skirts, pinning her down, passing be- 
tween her limbs and striking her body. Horses 
stopped suddenly, but the impetus of the house 
carried them forward. Their stopping kept my 
wife from being crushed by the wheel had it 
run lengthwise over her. (The weight of our 
outfit was 2,106 pounds.) Seeing the dilemma 
of my wife I leaped over her prostrate forni, 
forgetting that I had Qur baby boy upon m.y 
lap, and grabbed the fore wheel and lifted it off 
her. I then lifted her into the house. I had 
dropped our baby and he lay on the double-tree 
and cross-bars, not even crying; he was un- 
hurt. Examination showed that wife's shoul- 
der was dislocated and body bruised. The wife 
in arranging her dislieveled hair got her arm in 
such a position that the shoulder went back into 
its place and has been all O.K. ever since. 
Experience No, lo. — Viola's Close Call. 
We had camped upon a grassy spot. Viola 
in arranging things passed near the horse I had 

53 



purckased at Dungeness ; lie lunged at her hvi 
his halter tightened in time to save her. 11 " 
caught her clothing on top of her shoulder and 
threw her from him, scaring all of us, but doing 
no harm. I tied him to a tree and thrashed him 
soundly; never again did he try biting any one. 

My First Horse Trade. 

Approaching Eugene, at the head of Willam- 
ette Valley, a farmer asked me to " trade my 
1,600 pound horse for a nine year old 1,000 
horse, sound and true?" I said, "Yes, even, by 
giving me a bag of oats." Next morning he 
said '• I would not trade back for $25." I said, 

'' Glad of it; I also would ask you $35." 

• 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Mountain Fastness. 

After leaving Eugene the mountains ap- 
proach on the east and west. Passing Cottage 
Grove the valley is only about half mile wide. 
A sharp turn in the creek brings you suddenly 
to the foot of a very long and steep mountain. 
The general trend of the mountains has been 
north and south. We have been following the 
valleys, but now a change in them. Spurs from 
the Cascade Eange extend westward, connecting 
them with coast range. Across these we must 

54 



make our way. Our introduction is a surprise 
to us; we expected to go up then down then 
up again, etc., higher and higlier, but this time 
no down came, but up, up, higher and higher. 
These mountains arc covered with timber and 
underbrush, and the settlements are sparse and 
far apart from the Willamette Valley in Oregon 
to Sacramento Valley in California). Five hours 
we climbed; a level cleared spot appeared, also 
a ranch house, we decided to get our dinner. 
After feeding our team, hitching up again, the 
ranchman came out. Said he, "You will need 
help to get the rest of the way (3 miles), no 
teams go up alone; you can't, I know." " How 
much cost?" asked I. "$3.00," said he, "to 
help to pull you through the mud and up to the 
top of the mountain with my team." "No 
thanks," said I, "we will play it alone." 
"You'll never get up alone; if you comeback 
for me 1*11 charge you $5.00!" " Adiose!" said 
I. As we started a large team passed having 
200 feet of lumber on a running gear. "This," 
said the driver, " is a heavy load. (Allowing 
4 pounds to the foot makes 800 pounds.) " You 
can't get up the mountain " He led the way. 
We followed, family all walked, some places 
my team could only draw our outfit 10 feet, 

55 



but they kept trying and going up! Finally, 
aftcir hard work we arrived at the top. Said he, 
'' I never saw as good pulling team in all my 
life. I have lived on this mountain for years 
and never saw as small a team as yours draw 
as large a load up that mountain. You can go 
any place on earth you please with that team; 
this is the worst hill between Seattle and San 
Francisco!" (Where there is any road at all.) 
The going down was dry but extra steep and 
stony. 

Experience ii. — Haying. 
June 28. — Arriving at Wilber, Or., got a job 
liaying at Mr. Short's, for 75c. per day and 
board. Half day hauling on 29th. Saturday, 
said he, '"Rest today, I am going a fox hunt- 
ing." I used the day looking for another job; 
none found. Sunday to church. Monday, July 
2, work hauling hay. July 3, again hauling 
hay. In the evening I asked for cash to buy 
some provisions. Said he, ''I have no cash; 
will give you an order on the store." "O.K.," 
said I. He counted up my time. Amount $1.90 
for 4 days used and lost. Order presented, 
shopman said, '* I will lionor this, but no more. 
I can't carry him longer."' The next day being 
4th July the Short family went nort4i to a cele- 

50 



bration, 18 miles, leaving hay open in field. 
We decided that we could not fool around there 
at that rate so went southward 12 miles. Cele- 
brated by going salmon fishing at Winchester. 

Sights of a Life=time. — At the mill dam, around 
the end of which was left a run for the salmon. 
Fishermen stood there with their spears, and 
when a salmon dared to try to run the gauntlet 
each fisherman tried to catch it. Sometimes a 
fish succeeded in getting through. The larger 
fish, not daring to try the run-way, tried the 
dam. The dam measured ten feet, the water 
pouring over it about a foot deep. The fish 
would leave the water below the dam, leap into 
air. Some few would clear the dam into the 
water above it; many of them fell into the 
water and sink out of sight, to renew the leap 
again, may be to fail, may be to scale it. Sal- 
mon never go down stream after once starting 
up to spawn, until their season is over. 

A Money Change. — On arriving at Roseburgh 
we had 90 cents ; bought material, made com- 
position solder, also soap to remove tan, freckles, 
etc. My wife said she would sell these articles to 
ranchmen for something to live upon, rather 
than have me looking for work where none was 
to be found. 

67 



The Oregon ranchmen (farmers) told me but 
few of them had made enough to pay their 
taxes for the last 3 or 4 years ; could not hire 
their work done; nothing to pay with. One 
offered me beans at oc. per pound in exchange 
for work at 75c. per day (Found beans not ex- 
changeable at store for more than 2c. per pound.) 
' " No thanks ; I want pay for my work. " 

My wife, (at her self-imposed task,) found first 
few ranches no good, but soon potatoes, apples, 
cherries, turnips, bread, hay and cash appeared 
in exchange for solder and soap. Our day's travel 
shortened, but our provisions increased. So did 
the heat! My wife, sold only to the ranches, 
skipping all the villages; I canvassed the hotels 
for upholstering — none found. 

Glad Surprise. — One ranch deserves more than 
a passing notice. On Myrtle Creek my wife ap- 
proached one, and a middle-aged woman asked, 
''What do you desire? Are you selling some- 
thing?" This was spoken in a rather rough 
voice, not encouraging; but the wife, fearing 
nothing, commenced her song by apologizing 
for offering things for sale, mentioned her chil- 
dren also, and said her husband was unable to 
procure work, etc. Said she, **Yes, I will ex- 
ekange some fruit, potatoes and a hen for your 

58 



solder, etc. I also have a couple of lounges I de- 
sire repaired; your husband can do the work 
for me." (This was Friday evening, July 6th.) 
She ordered our team put up and fed hay and 
grain. Saturday, worked on lounge. Sunday, 
neighbors called to see us. By Tuesday even- 
ing I had overhauled two lounges — received po- 
tatoes, cherries, plums, butter, cheese, feed for 
our team four days, and $2.00 in cash. This 
family proved to be a Christian family, the old 
grandma and all. The worst side first shown 
improved on acquaintance. On Saturday her 
son was thrown froin a horse and broke hi > 
arm. I took pleasure in setting and splintering 
it. Name, Mrs. Adams, P. O., Myrtle Crtek, Or. 

Experience No. 12. — Morality vs. Hunger. 

Camped at head of Cow Creek Canyon. No 
feed, no ranch, and dark. Next morning early 
forward for hay. At foot of hill, three miles, 
came to ranch and lots of hay; asked to buy 
some. But he refused to sell. Turning a bend 
I took advantage of the position and ''borrowed" 
a cock of hay (not repaid it yet); the horses had 
a good meal. 

After breakfast we went forward four miles; 
met an old man. Said he, ^'Sir, you are off 
your road; this goes to R. R. station down the 

09 



creek; you must cross that range; go back five 
miles and take left-hand road," so returned to 
the ranch where I had borrowed the hay; got 
there just as they were going to dinner. In- 
quired for tlie proper road to Grant's Pass. Said 
the}', *• You must return the way just come; G 
miles below the road turns to the left across 
mountain." Again asked to buy hay for our 
team for noon. Said, **NoI I told you this 
morning I would not sell you any." Again I 
''borrowed" hay for team's dinner, and fed at 
the same place we breakfasted. 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Experience No. 13. — Robert's Tussle with Death. 

Arriving in Ashland, Or., July 14th. Fine 
offers for business were held out to induce us 
to stop. Believing advice good we did. On 
18th July rented shop and tried for work — poor 
success. A few days later our boy took summer 
complaint, and for three months we carried him 
on a pillow, expecting death every hour, but de- 
termined to save him if nursing would do it. Fi- 
nally, a change; he commenced to get stronger; 
as soon as the little one was able to ride we de- 
cided to start south again en route to Southern 
California. 

During our stay I decided to remodel the 

00 



House on Wheels. 1 took it to pieces, shortened 
it 2-J- feet, phiced door in rear instead of the 
side, opened the front so as to sit inside. Cur- 
tains closed it when not in use. 

On Nov. 10 we again hitched up. Cleared in 
cash $5.00 in four months in Ashland. All of 
us were in high glee to be on the road again, 
away from sickly Ashland. 

CHAPTER XV. 
Experience 14. — Hard Road to Travel. 

Twelve miles from Ashland, up Sisque Mount- 
ains, arrived at a toll gate over a road that a 
person should be paid to travel over instead of 
paying. We parlied over the price of gate fee 
(a dollar). Finally, he looked into our house. 
Said he, "I'll take that fine high chair, allow 
you $1.50." (For the $2.50 chair.) So he got 
our boy's chair for toll ! Then up to the summit 
then down into a river valley. High and cold. 

Mount Shasta. — That famous mountain is in 
sight for miles, towering thousands of feet above 
any of its neighbors. The crater of the old vol- 
cano is grand to look upon. It stands second in 
height on the Pacific (in the U. S). Mt. Ranier, 
near Tacoma, Wash., is the highest. Either of 
these are majestic to look upon, and grand to 
go upon. Came to, Sacramento Canyon at Dens- 

61 



more. We tried to buy hay and grain ; none in 
town. Said they, *' 3 miles below you can buy 
both hay and grain." Forward, but no ranch. 
We had a few pounds of grain left, so tied up 
our stock to trees (sheep had cleaned up the 
country of grass). Day's travel 25 miles. The 
scenery grand and beautiful. Sometimes our 
road was down upon the roaring, foaming, surg- 
ing Sacramento River; other times, 2,000 feet 
above the river. The mountains still above us. 
The mighty river could be plainly seen foaming 
and lashing, but not a sound reached our ears. 
The roadway, blasted out of the side of the 
mountain, is just wide enough for one team, 
except in places, wiiere it is widened to let 
teams pass. After passing one of these wide 
places teamsters have to "hello" to let ap- 
proaching teams know^ their location. The first 
giving the alarm is entitled to the right of way. 
Approaching Shasta we overtook a team. We 
camped together at the head of this canyon. 
I said, "Bacon, you go ahead; if you break 
down then I can help you repair. I can keep 
up with you easier than you with us. " He had 
to do the liallooing. and by allowing him to 
be about half a mile ahead he stopped any team 
from meeting us.'' 

62 



Once in this canyon, ho outlet till you get 
through, 80 miles in length. It is the longest 
passable canyon in the U. S. Road crooked, in 
some places stony and rough, in other places 
good. The canyon must be seen to be under- 
stood. Back on the higher mountains I was 
told hunting was good, deer abounded. Second 
day, distance 25 miles; third day, 30 miles; good 
roads, plenty grass at night in a field. 

Uncle Sam's Salmon. 

We will now inspect a salmon hatchery at 
Pitt River, Cal. A long row of buildings; a 
dam and gates kept large salmon from going 
up further. Officers caught them in large nets, 
sorted them according to size, shape, color and 
sex ; put them in water boxes, and millions of 
eggs were taken from the females. After milk- 
ing the males, all the salmon were then thrown 
back into the river. Down the stream they 
went, the season's journey up was over. After 
the eggs are hatched, the small salmon are sent 
to different streams and rivers to restock them, 
thereby keeping up the supply that would soon 
become exhausted if not for tlie part taken by 
our Government. 

Salmon is a salt water fish, but propagates in 
fresh water, m lakes, and lieads of streams and 

63 



rivers. Salmon return yearly to the place where 
they were propogated, causing wliat are called 
salmon runs. There are many kinds of salmon, 
good, better, best. The best, ''silver sides;" 
the largest, ''Chenook." The best are used at 
home in local markets ; the second grade is 
shipped east (cold storage and packed); the 
poorest — hump backed, dog faced and common — 
are canned for the world's markets. 

Needed Help. — Passing Redlands vre heard 
that at Old Nine Mile Ranch the grass on hill 
was good. Arriving, found sheep and a herder 
there. ''Yes," said he, "up on the hill the 
grass is good.'' We took our stock up and hob- 
bled them. The herder going early found his 
horse had got fouled with the lariat and was 
down. He cut it and the horse rolled down the 
hill and was unable to get up. He came into 
camp, told his trouble, asked us (Bacon and I) 
to go up and help him. Bacon said, '"rm 
going ahead. No time. Good by." Said I, "'ril 
go and see what we can do." We lifted the 
horse up, it lunged and fell down the mountain. 
Examination showed that its back was broken, 
so we ended its existence with a revolver. Said 
the herder, "I'm at a loss; can't go forward 
with the sheep; no way to take camp things. 

64 



I'll give you my revolver and $2.50 cash to haul 
my outfit to Red Bluff." I did so. We never 
heard of Bacon afterward. 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Down the Sacramento Valley. 
Late Gov. Stanford's Big Farm. — When passing 
through the town of Red Bluff it was suggested 
that we visit late Gov. Stanford's noted farm and 
winery. Crossing the Sacramento to the east we 
first saw oranges growing out doors. A few 
miles drive, on good roads, brought us to the 
Vina R. R. station. We introduced ourselves to 
the manager (Mrs. Stanford lives at College 
Farm, a place near San Jose) he kindly showed 
us around. The horse farm, 150 fine bred 
young horses, barns, stables, race track, etc. 
Then down to the Holstein dairy of 100 cows. 
They have their own creamery, got samples of 
their cream, butter, milk ; saw them separating " 
cream 30 minutes after it was milked. Latest 
improved machinery for everything except milk- 
ing; that was done in the good old way. Then 
through their grapery of 3,000 acres. Then 
through their winery, the largest private bonded 
warehouse in the U. S. They said they ''used 
300 horses on the ranch." ''The ranch is 6 

Go 



miles long and 2 miles wide." They raise also 
wheat, alfalfa, timothy and clover. They have 
3,000 hogs to which they feed the offal of the 
winery and the skimmed milk. They raise 
hundreds of ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys, 
etc. All persons living in Vina are directly or 
indirectly connected with or about the Stanford 
Farm, one of the cream spots of our earth ; sur- 
rounding it the country is barren and useless. 
This was on Thursday, November 22, 1894. 

Experience 15. — Grape and Green Walnut Diet. 

In the Sacramento Valley agents and peddlers 
are not admitted to the large ranch houses. The 
tenants have no cash and but little to eat. Rev- 
enue being cut off, our money soon gone, hun- 
ger came over us ; the grapes were left ungath- 
ered — too cheap. We asked for a few but were 
refused. I simply stepped over the fence, with 
burlap sack in hand, and filled it with grapes. 
Ranchman raged and threatened to arrest me; 
I retorted that my family was hungry. We 
gathered walnuts from trees alongside the road, 
lived 6 days on grapes and green walnuts, and 
traveled 150 miles on them. Grapes and green 
walnuts are good; but having to exist on them, 
alone for days together a person's stomach sick- 
ens j so did ours. 

66 



Experience No. i6. — The Battle. • 

Sacramento is a valley of big- ranches, houses 
far apart, small dead towns often, but N. G. for 
work. We approached a large castle (a house) 
in center of a ranch of 30,000 (thirty thousand) 
acres. I hunted up the foreman and asked for 
work. He refused to give me any. Told him 
of our embarrassment — no rnoney, no food, no 
horse feed, in need of nutriment for my family ! 
Said he " did not care; we do not feed wagon 
tramps, so move on! " I refused and said. '^ I'll 
take grain from your bins, and hay from your 
rick, if you won't give me work to pay for it ! 
Feed I'll have! Team can't travel without it." 
He, seeing my determination, said, " Carry out 
a little hay to your crow-baits!" I said, ''I 
must have some barley also!" ^'Well, take 
your own sack, go out to the stable and tell the 
boss there to let you have a feed of grain." I 
did so. The grain boss said, "How much?" 
I said, ''Put it in; 111 tell you when to stop." 
"When the sack was full I said, '' Stop, quick! " 
Then I went to the foreman again, and asked 
for food for my family. He said, ''No; I've 
given you enough!" I said, "We will have a 
good breakfast tomorrow morning, and don't 
you fear!" Before daylight I was up and 

67 



dressed, going to get a breakfast for my starv- 
ing family. I could see chickens roosting up in 
a tree, so I up with a club and let drive at them. 
Presently I heard the clicking of a gun being- 
cocked, and a voice in thunder tones call out, 
" You go nearer those chickens, I'll fill you with 
shot!" I turned and started for the speaker, 
club in hand. He disappeared around the grain 
elevator. To head him off I went around the 
opposite way, in time to see him again disap- 
pearing around his big house. Climbing the op- 
posite fence a race for the rear commenced. I 
had become interested in the flying Dutchman. 
I met him ; he dodged into the blacksmith shop, 
I after him. We came together ; he dropped his 
shot gun and begged, saying ''he did not intend 
to shoot me." In earnest tones I portrayed the 
situation — my starving family, I not being able 
to get work. Said he, ''I now understand your 
dilemma, and can't blame you. " Said I, "This 
is Thursday, Nov. 29 — Thanksgiving, and we 
have nothing to be thankful for, except health.''' 
Said he, ''You come into the house; I will give 
you some food." " ISTo," said I, "' but I will send 
in my little girl ; don't you detain her a minute. " 
(Had I gone into his house he might have turned 
a key and telephoned for an officer, and having 

68 



money I would not now be in New York.) Our 
girl soon returned with ai; armful ; again re- 
turned by invitation and made four trips. Re- 
sult — roast turkey, roast beef, roast pork, stuffed 
lamb, chicken pot pie, baked potatoes, mashed 
potatoes, bread, butter, fruit, corn bread, plum 
pudding, pie, cake, cheese, potatoes, flour, beets, 
sugar, beans, syrup, onions, carrots, etc. We 
say, reader, we were loaded for a seige. We 
were thankful, and soon after our feast started 
forward, canvassing the towns for work, but 
found none. 

The Roads. — The bottoms are low and level; 
the rivers all diked to hold back the water. 
At Mariesville the city is 10 feet below the bot- 
tom of the river; high dikes protect the city. 
The highways are on the dikes to make travel 
possible. These bottoms are overflowed yearly. 

Sacramento, Cal. — Dec. 3d. — Not caring to have 
Salem experience repeated we only went round 
the fine capitol building, with its beautiful 
grounds, the finest we ever saw. In crossing- 
America we have passed through 9 capitols — 
Salem, Sacramento, Carson City, Salt Lake City, 
Denver, Springfield, Indianopolis, Columbus 
and Albany. 

Arriving at Stockton we were welcomed by a 

69 



terrific wind and heavy rain storm, flooding tli5 
streets and making the roads muddy, in the clay 
bottoms almost impassable. Passing Mountain 
House the hills were slippery and bad. At 
Livermore the roads were better; 'tis a nice val- 
ley there. At Haywards we got our first view 
of salt water. We arrived in Oakland, Dec. 
17. Crossed the Creek Route Ferry. Cost us 
85c. to cross the Bay, leaving us with 85c. cash. 
Reporters got interviews and sketches, and 
advised us to go to the livery stable corner of New 
Montgomery and Mission Streets and await re- 
sults. This we did. 

In a House on Wheels. — A Journey of 1,200 Miles 
Made by M. Lasley, an Upholsterer, and His Family, — 
Culm courage of a true wife who would rather share 
her husband's fortunes than to stay at home and wait. 
When Lasley's house appeared on our streets busi- 
n?ss of all kinds stopped. Every person was awe 
stricken 1 "* What is it ? When first seen they had 
Market Street blocked solid. The children say " they 
enjoyed the trip," Their house is wonderfully ar- 
r.inged for comfort ; fitted like a traveling palace car. 
They expect to continue their trip south, soon as the 
weather clears. The house is 12 feet long, 6 high, and 
5 wide, with doors and windows. Camp stove, folding 
table and bed, lockers, commmode, chairs, etc. They 
have endured extreme hardships on their trip. — Sail 
Francisco Examiner, Dec. 18, 1894. 

70 



CHAPTER XVII. 
Winter in San Francisco. — Rain! Rain! It 
commenced about Dec. 10th, and the time was 
well used. Our clothing became wet, our bed- 
ding damp. I had looked for work, but none 
found. Cheerless the outlook when I wrote. 

Sonnet to My Last Penny. 

The fates decree that I must say farewell 

To thee, my cherished one, whom I would fain 

Within the precincts of my purse retain 

A little longer. Fancy dare not dwell 

Upon the blank which thy departure makes 

In my poor pocket, which, when thou hast left, 

Of money will be utterly bereft. 

Ah ! even hope my fainting heart forsakes, 

And vanishes with thee ; for where to turn 

To find another such I've yet to learn ! 

Yet, after all, it really is a wonder 

That thou hast been so long my constant mate 

When all my friends have fled. Oh, cruel fate, 

That drives us two so far asunder ! 

Experience No. 17. — Hopes Deferred. 

I went to the mayor (Sutro), told his clerk of 
my starving family. ^Tve no work, can't get 
any." Said he, ''I am sorry; thousands just in 
same condition ; good day. No cash to spare. " 
I went to the relief societies, their reply "God 
bless you brother, our ability is limited, our 

71 



treasury empty, go in peace ; may heaven bless 
you." Applied to Salvation Army relief head- 
quarters. Said, *' Can't help any more poor; 
you're no better than others; thousands worse 
off than you; God bless you; Good by." Then 
applied to Salvation Army Capt. Wm. Day, 
Assistant Editor War Cry, a person I knew 
when I had money and he doing carpenter work 
in Port Angeles, Wash., before he married a 
Salvation Army Captain and was promoted from 
private in rear rank to be Assistant Editor of 
The War Cry. He received me kindly; but 
when I told of our sufferings, and asked him to 
assist me a little, he said, "I am busted; not 
got a cent!" I applied to Street Cleaning De- 
partment for employment as sweeper. In reply- 
ing to questions which all applicants must an- 
swer all went well till "How long have you 
been in 'Frisco ? " was asked. I replied, ' ' Four 
days." The clerk's jaw dropped; he tore up the 
application, saying, "We never give work ^to 
new comers, but I'll tell you ; you go down and 
see the Merchants' S. C. D. Here is their ad- 
dress. It's a long way, take street car, 'tis rain- 
ing. Good by." No money, so I walked. Saw 
ths clerk; same reply: "Not here long enough. 
Say, just you call on Mrs. , President of the 

72 



Ladies* Christian Aid Society; tliey can put yotl 
on." I called; beautiful talking lady; asked me 
all the questions she could think of about my 
trip and family and said ''Quite interesting!" 
When I told her of my starving family she 
changed tune and said, ''Too bad! I'm sorry. 
Good by. 'Tis my busy day ! " I returned to the 
M. S. C. Dept., reported how I was received. 
Said the clerk: "I will help you; take this." 
He wrote: "Order ISTo. — Put bearer on half 
time, three days a week, for two weeks." To 
S. C. Dept.; they booked me. Said I, "When 
can I commence ?" " Well, there are 600 ahead 
of you, and we put on about 100 a month; you 
can call again about next June." I became 
v/iser, but weaker (nothing to eat for two days), 
I returned to stable. 

A Change Took Place.— " Mary," raid I, "we 
are going to change (to jail, may be), I am going 
to open these doors, push our house out upon the 
street, build a fire in our stove, dry our house 
('tis musty), and cook a little grub. You have 
some raw material." "Yes, potatoes, coffee, 
onions." Out it went; the fire soon dried and 
warmed us. ('Frisco has no wood or coal heat- 
ing stoves.) A crowd soon gathered about us; 
the questions put to us were many ; they heard 

73 



of our starving condition. 1 stood near the front 
of our house, curious persons interviewed my 
family. * The crowd was immense. Making my 
way through to the door, a gleam of hope was 
upon my sweet wife's face. Said she: *'Look 
here ! " The table was loaded with provisions, 
and more were upon the floor. Not being able 
to contain myself I dropped upon my knees and 
thanked God for our deliverance from starva- 
tion. I suggested that we return into the sta- 
ble. The stable door closing upon the crowd, 
we invoiced our provisions — 10 pounds cooked 
beef, potatoes, cooked ham, turkey, pies, cakes, 
cookies, bread, butter, coffee, sugar, plum pud- 
ding, pyramid cake, a layer cake, etc. Where 
it all came from we never found out, but we 
ate it with thankful hearts. Money also was 
given to the children, amounting to |8. 30. 

Our First Sketch Book.— '' Mary, let's get a 
book printed to answer these questions and not 
be talked to death." She consented, providing 
I sold them. As soon as the printers found I 
had no money they said, "No." Hunted for 
three days receiving many rebuffs, but upon go- 
ing into a small job office, proprietor said, " It 
isn't business, but I'll print you 1,000 copies; 
you pay as you sell them. '' I left my copy and 

74 



returned happy. A gentleman suggested that I 
drive up to Kearney St. I did so, and stopped 
at a clothing house for an ad. (We had put 
upon our house, " Busted! No grub ! No work! ") 
Returning:, I Saw a Jam. — Street cars blocked, 
express wagons, trucks, carriages and cabs had 
stopped, people had climbed up to be able to see 
our house and family ! I worked through the 
the crowd, and found people upon the wheels, 
between the horse, on the tongue, and behind 
them. I took the lines, shouted, "Look out!" 
we moved. Arriving at the stable, wife said, 
" See what was thrown in here while you were 
in that store ! " Counting we found $38. 90 ! 
Rich — suddenly from starvation to plenty ! Yes, 
we were indeed very thankful. 

Street Work. — Into the street we went again. 
I had had photos of our outfit taken, and now 
being ready, we opened fire upon the crowd. 
Our books, 15c. each; photos, 25c. We sold 
115.00 worth the first evening. January 5, 1895. 

Winter Quarters. — Found P. O. lot corner of 
Seventh and Mission Streets; got permission to 
put my outfit in it; worked the streets (free 
street license) ; did well. 

New Start Southward. — Rair subsiding again 
we started south. Jan. 28th at San Jose ; Feb. 

75 



' ^li We arrived at Oakland, worked the streets. 
Wife and I decided I had better go by steam- 
ship (on cut rates, $2. 50 steerage) up to Seattle 
to see about our claim. Did so, and was gone 
four weeks before I got back on same rates. 
Found the attorney had lied, trip n. g. My brave 
wife and children worked the streets selling our 
book and photos to live, protected at night by our 
dog Nig. I returned March 28 poorer in pocket 
but richer in experience. Encountered two 
storms at sea. April 1st we recrossed bay to 
enclosed sand lot. Not on street with outfit 
after April 12tlr. Our Viola sold the books out- 
side — amount received 50c. to $2.00. She visit- 
ed alone Golden Gate Park, Cliff House and 
Sutro Heights. I got a few jobs at upholstering. 
[During our seclusion I helped to organize and 
became secretary of the World's Christian Co- 
operative Society.] 

Experience No. i8. — A Crowning EvenL 

We procured a fine doctor and a good nurse, 
also clothing and other accessories. A child 
was born to us in our only house on wheels — a 
healthy, bright-eyed girl baby. The papers got 
wind of the event, and Lo ! presents, delicacies, 
and money poured in upon us. The child has 
grown till now, Feb. 9, 1898, she is a beautiful, 

76 



rosy cheeked, healthy child, has hut few equals. 
We named her for her hirthplace, Francisco. 

New Departure — "Now, hushand, in 2 weeks 
I desire to start forward." [Business men ad- 
vised us to take our house on wheels, go and see 
the eastern country, travel and enjoy your- 
selves ; you will make good money selling your 
hooks; hy and hy come hack to 'Frisco and 
enjoy life.] 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
Our Western Coast States. 

All the best land has long since been gobbled 
by railroads and speculators, and none but the 
poorest left. Only a very small portion of the 
coast States lands are tillable. The lands of 
California, Oregon and Washington generally 
are motgaged. The only valley in Oregon" of 
much value is the Willamette, formerly an in- 
land sea, and is generally very level; soil, good 
or poor — black soil, sand or gravel ; crops vari • 
able according to soil ; farmers mostly poor and 
stingy. No cash. Rogue River Valley is mostly 
fruit raising ; the railroads take all profits. On 
the coast north of 'Frisco it is wet and foggy in 
the fall, winter and spring — rubber clothing 
used. In the summer it is very dry. NO PLACE 
IN CALIFORNIA FOR A POOR MAN. For hunt- 



ing, no country like the Western coast. Fishing 
for sport is fine-, profits, none. If you have a 
good job, hold it; no opening, sure, out West. 

Reliable information about mining in the 
West, Alaska and other places free for 4 cents 
in stamps; address us. 

*« To Cross America. — Arrangements have been 
made, and the Lasley's, with their Travehng Palace, 
will try the perilous trip of taking it aross the conti- 
nent to New York City." — Condensed clipping from 
The /Sa?i Francisco Examiner, June 5, 1895, 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Eastward Ho I 

June 6th, 1895. — Our larder was full, we had 
400 books, $1. 25 in cash and lots of grit. We 
started eastward via Haywards and Stockton. 
The roads were almost impassable owing to 
high water. In some places the bed of the road 
was covered with water; we were guiding our 
team by the willows that were on either side, 
keeping as near the middle as possible. 

Broken Dikes. — For miles the valleys were 
covered deep with water, the overflow of the 
San Juan and Sacramento Rivers. The road we 
traveled was in the midst of an inland sea. 
Were glad when we reached high ground on 
the east side of the Sacramento Yalley. Grass 

78 



for our team was much better than when we 
went through in December. We passed through 
Stanford's land grant of 100 square miles. 

Change in Camp.— ''I say, Mr. House on 
Wheels, we'll camp with you tonight ! " So say- 
ing, three roughly dressed men' alighted from as 
many wagons while the fourth one of the party 
was a woman about 35 years old and non compus 
nientus. We laid the fence down and staked our 
horses in the pasture, little caring who owned it 
or where they lived. We had retired and were 
just dropping to sleep when a voice said, ^* Get 
up ; take your horses and get out of here quick, 
or I'll blow your head off ! " We heard the 
clicking of guns; I drew my revolvers, got up, 
opened the door slightly and looked out. 

I saw two men in white about twenty feet away. I 
heard "Get your team, and git, or we'll fire on you ;" 
"Don't shoot, don't; I'll leave." Presently a third man 
appeared, rifle in hand. He threw the harness on his 
horses (which he had left tied to his wagon, showing 
a plot. I had said to my wife, "We will watch that fel- 
low ; why did he not put his horses out on grass, as we 
did?") and back on the road he drove fast; bang, bang, 
bang, his horses' feet sounded on the still air. On in- 
quiry we found that the son and brother had foiled the 
plan of this brute. Next morning they (father, son and 

79 



daughter) asked permission to travel with us. We told 
them "the road was free." They kept with us till we 
got to Carson sinks ; they got ranch work and stopped ; 
we went on slowly. 

THE SIERRA NEVADA MTS. 

From Placerville to the American River, then up the 
rough, snow-capped mountain, being the first team 
over this season ; cutting the snow and ice to be able 
to cross at all, we were told "we could not get over 
too early ;'' but we tried, and won at Summit, 8,000 
feet, June 19, 1895. Down, down, quick down, till 
shortly we arrived down in Strawberry valley, crossed 
the line of California into Nevada, around noted Lake 
Tahoe, a magnificent body of water. The walls perpen- 
dicular in places. In one place the road is hung over 
the face of the ledge. Signs read ''Don't ride over 
trestle, danger, etc." All of us rode ; we were used to 
danger. 

While on the top of the range the children picked 
flowers with one hand and put the other one in the 
snow banks. 

From the lake we traveled uphill three miles. While 
coming up Mary cooked supper — fried meat, made bis- 
cuits, coffee and fried potatoes, etc., when camped at 
Hilltop, 900 feet above Tahoe, supper was ready to eat. 

If space would allow would like to describe the flume, 
80 



eleven miles lono^, from hilltop down to Carson City, 
which carries clown liimher, cordwood, railroad tics 
and poles, hauled from the mill on the lake or from ad- 
jacent hills. Some places the flume is nearly level, other 
places about 30 degrees pitch; at places the road goes 
under the flume, at other places over it, always near. 

Arriving at Nevada's Capital City, Friday, June 21, 
1895, we camped upon the public square, opposite the 
State Capitol — distance from 'Frisco by road, 248 
miles. 

A NIGHT ATTACK.— EX. NO. 19. 

No, reader, not Indians this time ; although at times 
along our road we slept upon our arms. Not wolves, 
either, although they often made it sound doleful with 
their howling ; but mosquitoes. We had camped upon 
a beautiful grassy spot near the Carson river ; the day 
had been rather warm ; no flies, no bugs. So at this 
spot some eight or ten teams had camped for the night 
upon the grass. At early supper time the ranchmen 
came in from haying, wearing netting over their faces 
outside their broad-brim hats. Said one: "Boys^ you 
are welcome to stay, but mosquitoes will eat you up." 
About half an hour before sundown the horses quit eat- 
ing grass, commenced stamping, then rolling and rub- 
bing. Going to the ranchman, we found he charged 
$1.00 to put teams in his stable over night. Several, glad 

81 



to protect their teams, paid this $i.oo. Removing the 
horses soon brought the mosquitoes into camp. ( Some 
were cooking supper, others eating, some making their 
beds, some washing dishes, etc.) Oh, the change ! The 
air was black with them; everybody stopped to fight 
them. Smudges did no good, tents no protection ; horses 
came running into camp for protection ; dogs howled, 
cows lowed and oxen dug up the ground. Women and 
children cried from the bites; men cursed and swore; 
some started for the hills (a mile away) and camped 
out there over night; others smothered themselves in 
bedclothes, etc. Cousins took shelter and worked to 
pay for it. We hitched up, pulled out into the hills, 
placed eight miles behind us, then stopped. We had 
escaped. Next day one of the campers overtook us. 
He said he was the last to leave. They stood it till after 
midnight, and so he pulled out; that all but us had 
taken the wrong road, and their party became divided, 
never to meet again. 

WHITE PLAINS. 
Dear reader, you must know something of geography 
to appreciate the country about to be described. We are 
now in the lowest place in the State of Nevada, the 
ground raising in all directions into mountains, the land 
for miles around dead level. The Carson River flowing 
from the Sierra Nevadas east and sinking in the sands 
forms the sink of the Carson (in the southern part of 

82 



the basin). ,The Humboldt River forms the Humboldt 
Lake (in fact, a series of small pools). This river rises 
in the Humboldt mountain, flows southwest ; very, 
very crooked ; its valley from 200 feet to ten miles 
wide ; sandy. Occasionally you encounter knolls of 
loose, dry sands, always shifting, making traveling 
hard — direction hard to follow. Suddenly, too, 
the ground changes ; you cross an old lava bed, 
sand ceases, ground flat and smooth; hard as a stone; 
white crust, fine going, after the hot, dry, loose sand 
(a compound of salt and alkali). The light hurts our 
eyes. We exclaim "white plains." 

WATER FAMINE.— EX. NO. 20. 
We have gone hungry, been cold, wet and worn out, 
but none of these compare with going thirsty. 'Tis now 
the 29th of June. The thermometer no degrees in the 
shade. No habitation ; no trees ; no springs. (The Cen- 
tral Pacific Railroad alongside wagon road.) Not hav- 
ing learned at Wadsworth the condition of the barren 
country, we were unprepared for THE WATER 
FAMINE. We had brought only a gallon of water. 
Day hot, travel slow, sand heavy, we walked a good 
part of the forenoon and our water was soon gone. 
Saw section men on the road ; went and asked the fore- 
said: "No, we don't give water away" (the section 
man, an American, for a little water for my family. He 
men were Chinamen). I asked if I could get some 

83 



Waicr at the section houbc V\ hen we came to it. He said 
"Xo." We drove on. Soon a curve m the road showed 
us the section house, five miles away. Hopes bright- 
ened, only to be dulled by slow travel hour after an 
hour passed. Children cried for water ; our lips were 
parched, our tongues swollen, suffering agony. Finally 
at 3 p. m. we reached the section house. Everything 
locked and chained up ; the water tank down in the 
ground covered heavily and door chained shut. Pro- 
curing a crowbar, I soon had the door off its hinges. 
Cautiously we sipped the w'ater by spoonfuls until all 
of us were revived. Then our horses and faithful dog 
had the same treatment. Reader, did you say ''w^ere we 
not afraid of the boss coming?" Well, no; necessity 
knows no law — "self-preservation first law of nature" 
under conditions like these. Even cowards would tight. 
We fed the team, cooked dinner and started forward ; 
slow travel ; darkness came on, wolves howled about 
us ; then again our water gave out and the pangs of 
thirst came on, but not so bad ; it was a little cooler. At 
10 o'clock a building hove in sight. Approaching it, w^e 
found it to be an abandoned salt w^orks. W'e found 
barrels w'ith fluid in them. Know'ing animal sagacity, 
we tried it. 

TESTIXG WATER BY USE OF DOG AND 
HORSES. 

I took my dog In my arms, went to a barrel contain- 
84 



ing fluid, showed it to him ; he scrambled, fearing I 
was going tc put him in it. To next and next -same way. 
Finally he did not care. As we approached one (my 
heart beat high) he put his paws upon the rim and 
commenced to drink. This one was the only one he 
would touch. I then took one of our horses and led it 
alongside of the barrels. He refused till he came to the 
same one chosen by our dog. With a bucket soon 
watered our team and our dog. Our own thirst was 
also quenched. (We took no supper, but, tired, we went 
to bed.) My home made register told us only fifteen 
miles to-day ; 3.30 a. m., at break of day, was up ; ex- 
amination showed this barrel contained water con- 
densed from steam and very stagnant. 

A TURNCOAT (FRIEND).— EX. NO. 21. 
After seeing the w^ater w^e could not drink it ; so 
pushed forward seven miles to Hot Springs ; water fine 
to drink after it cools ; but so hot in the spring that 
flesh will cook in it. Next to a station house, five miles. 
They refused us water, so I took it by force. Water, 
teed anc. dmner. then forward, going down a steep 
pitch bluff for fifty feet, a hard level bottom was struck. 
A station soon in sight. We stopped. Going into the 
place I found the telegraph operator. Said I : ''Sir, can 
I get some water, please, for our team and family over 
night?" "No." saic'. he, "we don't water wagon tramps ; 
'tis only a mile over to the lake ; the water is not very 
85 



rank ; you can go over there. Good night." An Irish 
section boss came in as I was going out. I asked him 
also for water. ''Well, \ve are rather short, but we 
might spare a little for your family to drink." ''I say 
no ; go over to the lake ; our water is low ; good day," 
cried the operator. Passing the back door of the sec- 
tion house, ho the commotion. Two little girls saw our 
HOUSE ON WHEELS and called out : "Oh, papa, 
here is the HOUSE ON WHEELS we have been ex- 
pecting." Presto, change. 'T say, mister. Stop ; drive 
your horses alongside the shed for protection from the 
wmd ; put your horses in the stable ; get water out of 
the tank (when it is gone we can get lots more). Here 
is all the wood you want." His family coming out to see 
us, insisted upon us staying over night and over next 
day (Sunday) and taking dinner with them, which 
we did. All four of them w^ere musicians and enter- 
tamed us well. W^e spent a Sunday long to be remem- 
bered. Name, Mr. W^m. Wrich, White Plains, Nevada. 
Our route now was up Humboldt River Valley. Varied 
was our experience, fording the river in dangerous 
places, three times experiencing encounters with horse 
thieves, being surrounded by coyotes, being lost in the 
sand hills over night, being lost on the river among the 
marshes and swamped in the mud flats ; attacked again 
by mosquitoes and marsh flies ; also attacked in the hills 
by sand flies. Qh, horrors! Few ranches and fewer 



towns; little water and hard to get. 
RABBIT HUNT AT SLOAN'S RANCH, NEAR 
WINNEMUCCA, NEV., JULY 8, 1895. 
('Tis a Paradise for Rabbits.) 

Desiring some fine sport, I took the gun and started 
down the grade toward the river. The ranchman, see- 
ing me, came running out of the house. ''Stop !" cried 
he ; "no use of a gun in here." "Only going to kill a 
few rabbits," said L "Hold !" said he ; "no use wast- 
ing powder. I'll show you how I kill rabbits." At 
that we had approached the bottom, rabbits sporting 
everywhere. The sight was too tempting. I let drive 
with one load and killed two young rabbits. He pro- 
tested. "Don't waste powder. Call your dog. Go 
over the bridge. I'll stay on the bridge and kill them." 
My dog Nig and I crossed the bridge on to an island. 
Oh, the rabbits ! The dog in his glory, started a drove 
of rabbits for the bridge, where the ranchman was in 
hiding behind a gate. They had to pass ; he laid upon 
them, striking right and left. The dog, seeing the man 
clubbing, stopped to look. I called the dog back and 
soon had another drove crossing the bridge. Again 
he plied his club. We repeated this several times, with 
the result that I gathered up eighteen. They were all 
young, half-grown jack rabbits, fine eating, 
PRICE OF HORSES IN NEVADA. 

Approaching Lockwood, parties desired to sell us 

87 



horses. Inquiry developed that horses were very cheap. 
Indians offered to go on to the range and bring us 
horses for $2 per head. Becoming interested I hunted 
up some of the horse raisers to get a few facts, and 
found that the demand for horses had ceased, and the 
ranges in Nevada, Oregon and Idaho had become over- 
stocked, and that there was a united effort ot the raisers 
to reduce the number to save the range. So lots of 
hogs were bought, turned loose upon the range and 
hunters w^ere hired to kill range horses to be de- 
voured by the hogs for food Range horses only $1.50 
to $5 each, and no demand at that The first horse 
buyers we saw w^as in central Illinois. From the Mis- 
sissippi River w^est horse flesh is cheap, and further 
west the lower it is. 

Atter untold hardships we arrived at Battle Moun- 
tain station, July 12; sold $2.25 books and pictures: 
canvassed town for work ; found some upholstering at 
hotel, Mrs. Huntsman, prop. 

TEAM STRAYED, LOST OR STOLEN. 

I worked over a mattress in the afternoon. Team 
stayed around w^ell. At midnight looked for them, and 
they were gone. At daylight I hired a pony and rode 
back twelve miles, then among the hills, and at dark 
found them cached away. I took them home and 
watched them close. Riding in the hot sun overcame 
me and for two days T tossed with fever, then rallied 

88 



and commenced to work again. Earned $8.50 cash d.nd 
a supper for all of us. Reaction set in. 

DOWN WITH MOUNTAIN FEVER. 
For the next four weeks I suffered with mountain 
fever, not being able to sit up. My wife suggested I 
lie down and she w^ould drive the team, and so up and 
down the mountains and over the plains she drove. 
What happened I know but little and cared less. Five 
weeks passed before I regained health. The journal 
shows she drove 211 miles with me sick in bed. In bad 
places Viola assisted in getting the team along. Viola 
and wife cared for team also. Finally the promontory 
appears. The salt air of Salt Lake was fine. 

BUENA VISTA. 
Of all the charming things that impressed our minds 
was the beautiful Salt Lake Valley, Utah. As first 
viewed from the barren hills above Corrin it is beyond 
description, coming from those desolate, barren plains 
of Nevada into that magnificent garden spot, the oasis 
in the American desert. The Mormon-made paradise, 
Salt Lake Valley, is a sight long to be remembered. 
We feasted upon their fruits, melons, corn, garden 
truck, honey, creamery butter, cheese, milk, eggs and 
poultry. After entering the valley at Brigham we 
feasted in it, rested and enjoyed ourselves with the 
people until the 23d of August, 1895, 

a0 



VARIED EXPERIENCES. 
At Salt Lake City we visited the Tabernacle, Temple, 
Beehive, Eagle Gate, Sealing House, old city wall, hot 
springs, &c. At Springville we attended a campfire of 
Indian War veterans. Leaving the Jordan valley, we 
headed for Grand Junction, Colo., across 125 miles of 
desert, having more hardships of hunger and thirst, 
crossing the dangerous Green River ford, letting our 
house down steep sand washes by aid of ropes, and go- 
ing down steep, dangerous canyons over rocks and 
down deep gorges for water. On September 18 we ar- 
rived at Grand Junction, another oasis in the desert. 
We rested a couple of days up Grand River. Cross- 
ing a high mountain on September 21 we were caught 
in a snowstorm. Oh, how it snowed ! Being on the 
very top the next day we easily came down out of it. 
Down on the river it had rained. At Glenwood Springs, 
September 27, a summer resort ; up Roaring Fork, then 
across to Eagle River, over Sheephorn Range, on to 
the Blue Cross Divide to Grand River, up to Hot 
Springs, near the foot of Continental Divide, Septem- 

bei 28, 1895. 

HARD CLIMB. 

Up the mountain side high, higher, higher; no 

level plape, road fairly good, some spots of snow, 

all day up, up. At dark we camped, put our horses 

into an old cabin, in which we found hay and used for 

feed. We were then at the perpetual snow line, and 
90 



It was very cold. Early next morning was up and 
ready for more climbing over the ice until finally by 
using ropes we gained the summit of the range, two 
and a quarter miles above sea level. Cold, and the 
wind, how it howled on the summit ! Then immediate- 
ly down on the east side it descends very quickly 3,000 
feet down, down, down, it being harder on us to go 
down than up and more dangerous. Down — up, up- 
down, across until the wide plains east of the moun- 
tains are in view. We felt relieved when our eyes be- 
l.eld Denver City, our Mecca, and we drove into it on 
Saturday evening, October 12, 1895. 

Total distance traveled, 2,775 miles. We had crossed 
eighteen mountain ranges and thirteen divides. 
OUR FINANCES OF 1895. 

Four hundred of our books, $1.25 and $8.50, at Bat- 
tle Mountain, aided us to reach Salt Lake City ; books 
and pictures gone, 90c. yet in cash. Bought material 
and made Indian eye salve ; also material for marking 
silver and steel and a camp solder. These we traded 
for provisions or sold for cash. Arriving at Denver, 
' Colo., we had 75c. in cash. 

A HARD STRUGGLE. 

Our team dies. Our horses had got alkalied, and on 

the second day after reaching Denver one of them died. 

We were thankful it was not one of our children, and 

a few weeks after this the other horse died. So we 

91 



lecided to winter near Denver, and we thought it best 
to vacate our house on wheels and try gold prospecting 
in the new gold camp in the foothills west of Denver. 
A friend gave me a broncho, and in breaking him he 
threw me and broke my collar bone. Not daunted, 
with shoulder bound up, I went up into the new camp, 
and with pick I prospected ; but upon the icy mountain 
I slipped, fell and broke a rib ; but still I stayed. Joy ! 
Two weeks after this who should I see getting off the 
train near our camp but my wife and children. My 
wife said: "I just could not stand it any longer, so bor- 
rowed the cash and here we are." She had written she 
w^as coming, and I had prepared in part a cabin, but did 
not expect them so soon. I was delighted to see them. 
Soon, with the aid of my family, I, with one arm, had a 
fine, comfortable stone cabin for us, dug out of the 
mountain, covered with lumber, then cloth and dirt, size 
25x14 feet. My wife began baking on her stove, and 
soon was supplying the miners with bread, pies, cakes, 
crullers, &c. Viola carried them to their cabins. I 
took a job digging a prospect hole for $25. I hired a 
man to do the job, and cleared $14. I sent to Denver 
and got a few things to sell to the miners, such as 
tobacco, flour, bacon, sugar, salt, matches, candles, &c., 
at good profit. Each day I closed out, and each day I 
procured a new supply. Soon I added fresh beef, but- 
ter, eggs, lard, cigars and meats, pickles, fruit, &c. I 

93 



staked more claims, did siirvcyhig- claims, formed mill- 
ing companies, and was one of the mainstays in camp. 
Time passed and May came. I was aware the camp 
was no good for a poor man, as the pay ore was too 
deep. So we hunted up a speculator, sold my six holes 
in the ground for $50, closed out personal effects, went 
to Denver, bought a good 2,500-pound team and had 
$75 to get ready for the road again. My broken bones 
had united. We repaired our house, bought a camera, 
had 500 books printed, put in $20 worth of notions to 
sell upon the road, and on May 28, 1896, started again 
for New York, via Texas. 

HOPES BRIGHTEN. 

Roads good, team fresh, spirits high, weather de- 
lightful. We visited the Garden of the Gods, near 
Colorado Springs; also visited Manitou Springs, the 
famous watering-place at the foot of Pike's Peak. Ar- 
rived at Pueblo June 8. Papered and refitted our 
house on wheels. 

At Trinidad, Colo., on June 15. Over divide, down 
Cimerona Creek, at White's ranch, I traded a mule I 
had bought in Denver for a wild young horse, which I 
soon broke to work. Most of the settlements we 
passed through were Mexican. I learned my wife and 
daughter, Viola, to speak their language, and they took 
pleasure in selling our notions to them at good prices. 
Towns few and far apart, country being settled spar- 
93 



ingly. Country stores 40 to 60 miles apart. 
BIG RANCHES. 

On June 26 we came to Texline, a small town and 
railroad station in northwest corner Panhandle, Texas. 
It was located on XIT ranch, called the State Capital 
Syndicate ranch. Capitalist built the Texas State 
Capitol Building for State lands located on northwest 
side of State. Size of ranch, 40 miles wide by 200 
miles long, divided into seven divisions. It has thirty- 
nine windmills, employs a fence rider, two oilers and 
cowboys to each division. Each fence rider sees to and 
repairs 135 miles of wire fence. The fence cost $106 
per mile. The divisions are all well stocked with dif- 
ferent kinds of horned cattle. The old road runs 
diagonal through this ranch. There are also three towns 
located within its bounds, and several small ranches 
inclosed by their own fences (ranches of a few miles 
square they fenced in and went on). Very few springs 
on the northern part, and most of the water is brought 
to the surface by windmills. 

DANGEROUS CROSSINGS. 

We arrived at Tascosa, Tex., on Canadian River, 
Saturday, July 4. Canvassed town, sold notions. We 
were advised to cross the river (rainy season had com- 
menced). We did so in evening; sure next morning 
crossing cut off, river up, no crossing again for six 
weeks ; we safely on south side, so forward we went. 

94 



At Goodnights we saw the largest herd of Buffalo in 
United States. At Memphis, Tex., July 15. Creeks 
and Red River not fordable (rivers not very deep, but 
dangerous quick sands), so waited. Got few jobs to 
do. Put our horses on grass. On 21st arrived at 
Newlin, half a mile from Foard, on Red River. No 
crossing. On 23d river lowered. Nine teams waiting-, 
five on one side, four on other. 

QUICKSANDS. 

"I am going across," said I. "If you do, so do we," 
said they. All the men stripped off outer clothing, 
waded in, and tried the crossing. We sank to 
our knees, then to our hips, then to our waists in the 
sand. We finally settled the sand, and the bottom be- 
came firm. We crossed with horses first to try the bot- 
tom. Some of them reared and plunged; others laid 
down. Our large, tall horses did nicely. I helped 
draw five outfits across. Then came our house on 
wheels. The water was breast deep to me. My team 
snorted and pawed. I grabbed the harness, and away 
we went. Our house floated — not six inches of water 
on floor. We crossed the best of all, with many cheers. 
All being across safe, we were thankful. My wife and 
children said they enjoyed the excitement, but excuse 
me. We arrived at Sherman (Cyclone) City Aug. 15. 
(Headlines of papers) 

"HOUSE ON WHEELS in Town from Washing- 
96 



ton. Three Summers en Route. Distance Travele;!, 
3,700 miles." "Sherman Post," Aug. 16, 1896. 

"HOUSE ON WHEELS. A PecuHar Journey 
Across the Continent." 

"Sherman (Tex.) Democrat," Aug. 15, 1896. 

We enjoyed two three-day picnics at Sherman. Heat, 

117 degrees in the shade. At Greenville, Aug. 26. 

CHANGED EXPERIENCE. EX. NO. 24. 

It causes us to smile to see the pomposity of some 
city officials. At Greenville, wishing to rest our team 
for a few days, I decided to effect a change in the ex- 
perience, as variety is the spice of our lives. We 
camped on the public square four days, and during the 
time I took in dimes as a mind reader. We were 
leaving the square when the collector demanded an oc- 
cupation tax, stating I was fortune telling. I denied 
it, and refused to be taxed as such. He reported me 
to his brother officers, and a warrant was issued for 
my arrest. I gave bond, and was on hand for trial. 
After lots of bullragging the prosecuting attorneys 
rested ; so did I. The Mayor declared the city failed to 
make a case, and I was at liberty. All the parties I 
gave a reading to were well satisfied aiid pleased. 

On Sunday we drove out to a grove to attend a camp 
meeting. A committee from the camp waited upon us 
to investigate report of mind reading. I read for 
them ; they failed in their mission, and returned. 

AN INJUNCTION. 

Be not too quick to judge, my brother, 
For a kindred povv^er you may feel ; 

96 



Heavy burdens may be lifted. 

Two minds working at your wheel. 

Let him know that you take an interest ; 

It will not take him long- to see 
Whether you are a true well wisher 

Or a shamming Pharisee. 

Do not turn your back upon him, 

Do not coldly walk away, 
Just because you think you're made of 

Some superior kind of clay. 

When you come to think about it, 

As sometimes we mortals must, 
There is nothing very striking 

In the finest kind of dust. 

NORTHWARD. 

''Something unique in Paris." 

"HOUSE ON WHEELS— A Family of Six." 

''Travels 3,832 miles." 

"Paris Tribune," Sept. 2, 1896. 

We had 1,000 of our books printed. We visited cot- 
ton compress bailers, cotton oil mills and factories, saw 
where they burned the negro. Sept. 14, started for St. 
Louis, via Indian Territory. 

TEXAS PEOPLE. 

They are the most religious people we ever met with. 
We did not hear a dozen oaths in the State. The 
masses are very poor, especially in the farming dis- 
tricts. The colored people own a large proportion of 
the farm lands. Many of the colo?-ed people have 
white tenants on their lands. Large syndicates own 
the grazing lands. 

EYE CLOSER— VIOLA'S EXPERIENCE. 
97 



"Be careful, don't touch any of those green vines; 
they are poisonous," said I to the children. On Sept. 
i8, at Caddo, I. T., Viola complained of stinging. I 
knew it was poison. We gave antidotes and used lo- 
tions ; could relieve, but not cure. Called in doctors, 
but they failed. At Coalgate, Sept. 21, Dr. Haskins 
volunteered to cure our child free, also free feed for 
our team. He used the strongest medicines known. 
The case stubbornly held out; her face was swollen, 
eyes closed and inflamed. Finally the color changed, 
case gave way, and gradually improved, leaving her 
eyes weak for a time. They were more careful 

BABY FRANCES RUN OVER. EX. NO. 25. 

We camped on the main street In Coalgate, I. T. 
Children played all round us. At dusk on Sept. 2^ we 
heard the rattle of a team passing, clatter of hoofs, 
scream of a child. Jumping out we beheld our sixteen- 
month-old babe between the hind feet of a span of 
mules. The driver had not seen the child until he 
knocked her down with the wagon tongue, too late to 
save her. He stopped, I dove between his team, 
crowded the mules off the clothing of our child, handed 
the unhurt, but scared, babe to its mother, gave driver 
a talking to about carelessness. He offered to procure 
a doctor and pay bill. We examined babe, accepted his 
apology, and liberated him. Our child not even 
bruised. 

CROSSING THE NATIONS, I. T. 

Nothing special occurred (barring night attack of 
wolves and mosquitoes, camping out among bandits, 
crossing dangerous rivers, surrounded by deadly rep- 

A 98 



tiles, breaking of the wagon tongue in dangerous place, 
the wheels breaking down, being misguided, etc.), until 
we arrived at Wagoner, I. T., Oct. 3. 

SECOND TEAM DIES. EX. NO. 26. 
a week past. Examination showed he was alkalied ; 
might recover, but doubtful. Going out to hitch up the 
horses at Wagoner I found one dying and soon dead ; 
other one sick. On the 7th he died. We were penni- 
less, only little grub, no cash, no work to be gotten. 
Horses low priced, but no money to buy with. Upon 
our house we put notice: "Team wanted to draw our 
house on wheels to Venita." 

NEW TEAMSTERS. EX. NO. 27. 
One of our horses had not been feeling very well for 
Lots idle horses and men. They demanded pay in 
advance. I say, 'T'll pay when job's done." On 
Oct 13th got man to haul our house to Venita, 40 miles, 
for $5. Arriving, I gave lecture on mind reading, and 
on our trip took up collection, sold few books, and paid 
our driver ; dismissed him. Got another to haul us to 
Chetopa, Kas., 32 miles, for $1.75. Oct. 15, on street 
of Chetopa gave a silver lecture to large body of gold 
men ; took up collection and sold books . 

A NEW SET OF BONES CALLED A TEAM. 

A gold man called next morn. Said he: "You are a 
silver advocate. I am for gold, but I am a man for all 
that. I heard your lecture ; it suited me. FU give you 
a pair of ponies." His son and I went out and got 
them. Oh, so poor, had to be helped up when laid 
down. We commenced to grain and care for them, 

99 



and in a week were on the road again, from one town to 
next. At Joplin, Mo., we gave lectures on mind read- 
mg, politics, travel. Under pressure, my wife gave 
readings ; did extra well. On Monday, Nov. 2, we ar- 
rived at Webb City, Mo. I gave silver lecture to big 
silver crowd, then sold the names of next President for 
IOC. each. On opening found McKinley's. They 
were disappointed. Stayed there till after election, 
then forward. Arrive at Springfield, Mo., Nov. 13, 

OUR OLD HORSE BARNEY. 

We were on the farmers' square lecturing, selling 
books, giving readings. I gave thirty-seven readings 
at IOC. Saturday afternoon I heard an auctioneer of- 
fering a horse for sale at a dollar. I offered $1.05, and 
got our old blind Barney. Now, 1899, he is 28 years 
old. At Springfield, Mo., we had traveled 4,337 miles. 
Now, March i, 1899, our total is 8,065 miles. We 
have driven him 3,728 miles. A wonderful horse he is ; 
used to be a race horse. 

CHANGED MATES ON THE ROAD. 

We traded our two ponies for one horse. Wore it 
out. Traded it for another, gave $2 to boot. He 
proved balky. You would laugh to see some resorts 
to make him pull; used him half a day, then traded. 
Then traded again. Then traded again — four times in 
twenty-four hours. Gave a revolver to boot. This 
one developed ringbone, so traded again. Then traded 
for a pair of mules, gave $2 to boot. Then the mules 
I traded for a nice fat mare, proved balky. I used her 
for 500 miles. At Little Washington, Pa., traded 

100 



again, and gave a watch and 75c. cash to boot. This 
horse I now have. You can see old blind Barney has 
had twelve mates on this trip. 

PROBLEM. 

I am driving my eleventh horse on left side, my 
twentieth on the right. How many horses have I had 
on this trip ? A prize for correct solution. 

Springfield, Mo., is on the very top of the Ozark 
Mountains. The road follows the summit sawtooth 
fashion. Road in timber muddy; on prairie sandy 
and dry ; on creek bottoms sticky loam. Hills very 
rocky and bad. Our travel was slow and hard. Towns 
few. At three school houses we gave entertainments ; 
receipts $4 to $5 each. Passed through Union City, 
Mo., December 7. Roads improved. On December 
9 we drove into St. Louis; stopped 1400 Broadway, 
corner Second Street. Camped over night. On 
the loth down into the city. Got free permit to sell our 
books on the street. Sold $5 worth. Located on lot 
on Market Street, between 13th and 14th Streets. 

HEADLINES OF PRESS. 

"Over a Continent." "This Family Is Traveling in 
a House Wagon." "Their Appearance in St. Louis 
Attracted Much Attention." 

"St. Louis Star," Dec. 13, 1896. 

"A Prairie Schooner." "A Regular '49er on the 
Streets of St. Louis." "With a family Making a 
Transcontinental Trip." 

"St. Louis RepubUcan," Dec. 13, 1896. 

101 



''House on Wheels Looted by Thugs." "Latest 
Freaks of Crime." ''Entire Family Lined Up and 
Robbed of $2.70 at Corner 17th and Chestnut Streets." 
"St. Louis Post-Dispatch," Dec. 12, 1896. 

This last is a "Post-Dispatch" lie out of whole cloth. 
The reporter made fiftv-seven statements and told fifty 
lies, making ONE BIG LIE. 

Got 1,000 books printed. We sold books on the 
streets and did advertising for three firms, Harris, 
Dietz and Hilts, until January 5. We thought best to 
go up to Chicago, 111. ; crossed the Mississippi River on 
bridge. At Springfield, 111., January 16, 1897, by spe- 
cial invitation, visited Lincoln's home on Sunday; his 
monument. State Capitol, &c., on Monday. Sold lots 
of books on street. We especially remember Mr. and 
Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. D. B. Ayers and Dr. Diller and 
father for kindnesses tendered us and favors shown. 

A BLIZZARD. 

On January 22 at Lincoln a northerner set in. It 
got cold, zero; 23d, 8 deg. below zero; 24th, 12 deg. 
below ; 25th, 16 deg. below ; 26th, 18 deg. below zero. 
Then it moderated. We traveled only in the middle of 
the day. February i at Pontiac. February 7 at Joliet. 
On Thursday, February 12, arrived at Chicago. Capt. 
White, of the London Museum, engaged us on sight 
for two weeks. Got 1,000 books and pictures printed. 
Distance from St. Louis by road, 340 miles. 

On IMarch 4 we started for Cincinnati, O. Through 
northern Indiana the mud was bad ; took us three days 
to travel ten miles around Kankakee Swamp. Through 
Kokomo, Ind., March 24, 1897. March 27 at Indianap- 
olis. Roads now pike. April 5 into Cincinnati. Dis- 

102 



tance from Chicago by road, 377 miles. Free street 
permit. Sold books. C. H. and-D. R. R. gave us $1 
an hour to carry an "ad." for them. We took a short 
trip over in Kentucky. ' 

• On April 16 forward for my old home in Cheshire, 
via Columbus. Roads built by the United States Govern- 
ment fine. On the 226. at Columbus; distance from 
Cincinnati, 133 miles. On May 8 arrived at my old 
home. Met relatives and friends. I had not been 
there in twenty-one years. We were well received. 
More invitations to dine than had time. On the 17th, 
by special request, I gave a lecture on our trip to a large 
audience in the Opera House. Said farewell to friends. 
On i8th at Athens; visited relatives; gave lecture in 
City Hall on 24th ; attendance large. Now for Pitts- 
burg, Pa. Road hilly. Sold our books every place. June 
5 at Wheeling, W. Va. At Pittsburg June 14. Had 
1,000 books printed. Total distance, 5,857 miles. From 
Cincinnati our route, 557 miles. Sold lots of books on 
the street ; free permit. 

ROBERT'S EXPERIMENT. 

"Papa, let me hing (sing), please," said our little boy 
(after I had lectured one evening). I did so. "Now," 
said he, "I want penny." He collected 90c. He has 
sung in every city since then, with more or less success, 
till now he owns a United States Government $20 bond 
in his own name. ' He is proud of it, indeed. Says he's 
going to have another one. Every day he sings for a 
few pennies. He is a sure keeper; never spends his 
money ; gets his spending money from papa or mamma. 

We worked Pittsburg till June 25 ; then forward. On 

103 



June 30 at Erie, Pa.; distance, 150 miles. Streets free 
to us. Had 1,000 books and pictures printed. On 
July 7 at Buffalo, N. Y. Streets free. Saturday, July 
30, city sweltered in heat ; 98 deg. in shade. Sold books 
on streets till July 28 ; then drove up to Niagara Falls ; 
enjoy open hospitality to everything. Sold lots of books 
and pictures. Had 2,000 books and pictures printed. 
On August 3 drove back to Buffalo; sold more books 
and did waiting. Became acquainted with Prof. Tay- 
lor and family, with whom we had many a pleasant 
evening. 

A MEMORABLE DAY. 
Tuesday, August 31, 1897, a babe was born to us, the 
second one in our HOUSE ON WHEELS. 

HEADLINES OF NEWSPAPERS. 

"Baby Born in the House on Wheels." ''Addition 
to the Lasley Family." "Nice Nine-Pound Girl." 
"Will Have a Name Identifying Her with Buffalo." 
"Wagon Will Soon Move on Toward New York." 
"Buffalo Courier Record," Sept. 5, 1897. 

We had the best physician and nurse in the city. We 
named our babe Bonita Buffalo Lasley. 

On September 9 my wife said : "Come, now for New 
York City." Roads good ; team well rested. We at- 
tended Rochester, N. Y., fair on September 15. At 
Palmyra fair on September 21. (Fairs "N. G." for us.) 

104 



MY WIFE'S FIRST LECTURE. 
At Syracuse Wednesday, September 29, 1897. We 
had got free street permit. I was selling books to a 
crowd around the front of our house by the team. Some 
well dressed women came to the door, looked in and 
made fun of the construction. It fired my wife. Go- 
ing to the door she replied to the women. Then, hav- 
ing broken the ice and seeing about 500 people before 
her, she commenced to tell of our trip and to sell books. 
She did not stop for an hour and a half. I then insisted 
upon her stopping, and she consented reluctantly. The 
next day she could hardly make a sound, but she soon 
recovered. Since then she has addressed more than 
100,000 people. She is a fine, enthusiastic speaker. 

PRESS CLIPPINGS. 
"A Palace on Wheels." "Curious Vehicle Visited 
Utica." "Long Trip Overland." 

"Utica Observer," Oct. 5, 1897. 

"HOUSE ON WHEELS." "Family Traveling 
Across the Continent Stops at Little Falls." 

"The Evening Times," Oct. 7, 1897. 

October 9 at Amsterdam. Had 2,000 books printed ; 
also pictures. October 14 at Albany, N. Y. ; on market 
square. Visited Troy City over Sunday, October 17. 
At Hudson on 20th. At Wappinger Falls on October 

105 



28. By invitation from Superintendent Goering we vis- 
ited Sweet, Orr & Co.'s factory ; fine one. On 30th at 
Newburgh. Had 1,000 books printed ; also plates made 
of books. By invitation we visited the home factory 
of Sweet, Orr & Co. ; very, very kind ; only factories 
in the East that we have been invited to inspect. We 
carried an "ad." free as a compliment for them. No- 
vember 5 at Tarrytown ; they donated us flags to deco- 
rate our house with. Also bought lots of books. At 
Yonkers on November 6. We got 3,000 more books 
printed. 

A CLOSE CALL BY FIRE. 
On November 8 we had worked the streets at 
Yonkers and retired. At 2 A. M. we were routed by 
a rap. A voice said : "A big fire near you. Better get 
up. The stable is on fire !" Into part of my clothes I 
got, and asked assistance to move our house on to the 
street. That done, family safe ; then for the horses and 
harness. The fire roared and blazed high. The fire 
department responded quickly, and the fire was con- 
fined to a saloon adjoining the stable. No damage to 
stable ; only close call. We were frightened. 

CHRISTENING. 
Our Bonita Buffalo was baptized Sunday, Novem- 
ber 14, 1897, in the First M. E. Church of Yonkers, 

106 



On November 15 wife and I visited New York 
City to get location, do some shopping and see the 
sights. Grand sights to us. 

On November 17th we drove into New York City. 
Located at 150th street and Convent avenue. At city 
Hne, the poHce waved their hats and said, "Welcome, 
House on Wheels, into Greater New York." 

A RED LETTER DAY 

it was to us. We had accomplished something never be- 
fore done — crossed America- in a HOUSE ON 
WHEELS. Making our own way, having only $1.25 
when leaving San Francisco. We felt relieved. We 
knew our history would be in demand. We felt, with 
proper attention, we could LIVE. 

Thousands had told us we could not make the trip, 
and only six (up to St. Louis) had said of course we 
can; those six helped us more than a person can 
imagine. Thanks to them. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Distance, as we traveled, from Port Angeles, Wash., 
to San Francisco, 1,200 miles; days traveled, 65; daily 
average, 18J miles. Mountainous and rough country. 
San Francisco to Denver, Colo., 1,575 miles; days trav- 
eled 87; average, 18J miles; mountainous; deserts and 
sand. Denver to St. Louis, Mo. (via Texas), 1,810 

107 



miles; clays traveled, 92J ; average, 19J miles; country 
generally level. St. Louis to New York, 2,081 miles; 
days traveled, loi ; average, 20^ miles; roads generally 
good. Total distance, 6,666 miles ; total days traveled, 
346; average travel, about igl miles. 

In gathering items of interest for our complete book 
we left our line sometimes 100 miles to see and gather 
facts. 

We have crossed 20 mountain ranges, 18 divides and 
13 hills, some of them 8,500 feet high; forded 11 large 
rivers and ferried 12; have crossed 35 large bridges 
across rivers; have passed through three heavy wind 
storms, had the top blown off our house in less than a 
minute. 

I have driven 285 miles with a broken tire, wired to- 
gether. Have broken out four tongues and four dou- 
ble-trees, all the single trees ; the neck-yoke is the one 
we started with. 

OUR CYCLOMETER. 

You would smile to hear many of the remarks we 
hear. Watch that crowd of nicely dressed men. They 
look around. Hear them. ''Just see those fat, healthy 
children." "See that nice, blue-eyed w^oman." "Oh, say, 
Pete, just see that clock on the wheel, ha, ha, ha !" Rea- 
sonably, you expect well dressed, well groomed, well 
fed, polished-looking, smooth-shaven individuals to 

108 



show that they were educated, instead of showing their 
ignorance by calHng a mile register a clock, when rea- 
son would inform a thinking person that registers (not 
clocks) were attached to wheels; but as it is made out 
of a clock I excuse them. I used an old alarm clock; 
reconstructed it into a register. For a mile the hands 
register one hour. We note the time by the register 
when starting, again when stopped ; difference in hours 
is the miles traveled. Each day I note in our journal 
the distance traveled, so 'tis no guesswork. Anything of 
importance is noted down — weather, cash receipts, kind 
of people and how we are treated by them ; how officers 
act toward us; the business conditions of the people; 
accidents, etc. (This book is written with my journal 
before me.) 

We did hope to print an illustrated book, but the cost 
is too great now for us ; but it is our ambition. We have 
hundreds of pictures to select from. 



NEWSPAPER HEADLINES CLIPPINGS. 

"6,666 MILES IN A HOUSE ON WHEELS." 
The Lasleys Came to This City From Port Angeles, 
Wash., in a Prairie Schooner. Crowds 
See the Strange House. 
—New York Herald, Nov. 22^ 1897. 



109 



FAMILY FINDS FORTUNE IN ITS HOME ON 

WHEELS. 
Evicted From His Farm on Puget Sound, Lasley Takes 
His Wife and Children all Over the Con- 
tinent in a Van Drawn by Horses. 
Now at 150th St. and Convent Ave, 

New York Journal, Nov. 24, 1897. 

LIFE IN A HOUSE ON WHEELS. 
Home of the Lasley s Since 226. March, 1894. 

New York World, Nov. 24, 1897. 

Other New York papers had writeups, but the above 
suffice to show notice taken of our arrival in New York. 

OUR NEW YORK EXPERIENCE. 
We expected when arriving in New York to go into 
a museum for a few weeks, then sell our outfit as a 
curio to somebody and return West. So we called upon 
Huber. Said he : "I would like to engage you, but I see 
your children are all less than 15, so I can't; the law 
prohibits." We called upon Mr. Gerry. "No, not in any 
museum or playhouse here," said he. ''You may rent 
a place, run it yourself, so you don't have music. Yes, 
you can sell your books upon the street, have your chil- 
dren along; no objection." We called upon the city of- 

110 



ficlals. "No, you can't get upon our streets. No room. 
Cause too much attraction. No free permits to our 
streets. If you have the money to pay we will have a 
special act for you passed in the Council." ''State your 
price," said I. "Call to-morrow. Good day." I called. 
The Councilman (of the ward I was in) was hunted 
up; application signed and paid for (more red tape) ; 
finally badge, tags and license given and $25.00 paid for 
it. Returned (to stable on 150th street). Ready; on 
to New York streets with our house, books and pic- 
tures; (Monopoly style), we raised the price to pay for 
the license. After selling enough half tone pictures to 
repay us for license and a few dollars extra we reduced 
the price of book and half tone to regular price — loc. 

The police generally treated us nicely. Once in a 
while some new one (on the force) would try his 
powers. Once we were taken into Headquarters for 
investigation, only to be liberated, and the patrdman 
censured. While off the street we stayed from one to 
three weeks at a place, renting a stable for our horses 
and having a lot for our house. We worked the streets 
in our neighborhood, then changed to another location. 
We took part in the procession of Greater New York 
on January 1st, 1898. Our locations: 150th street and 

111 



Convent avenue; I32d street, near Third avenue; 
Forty-second street and Tenth avenue ; Tenth avenue 
on Fourteenth street ; Fifty-fifth street off Broad- 
way; Peck's sHp stables and No. 60 Cherry street, 
Carie's place. 

WE BUILT ANOTHER HOUSE. 

At Tenth avenue and Forty-second street one even- 
ing a rap we heard. Opening the door, a finely dressed 
man and woman were seen. "Good evening. We 
bought and read your book. I used to be out in Wash- 
ington. We called to show our friendship ; I find you 
speak the Chenook dialect," said the man. In conver- 
sation we learned he desired a job as a salesman; that 
his wife was in poor health, and to travel as we do 
would be desirable to both of them. We gave him a job 
helping us sell our books. After moving down to Tenth 
avenue off Fourteenth street we constructed another 
house upon the running gear of a wagon for this man 
and his wife (to travel with us, as we had decided by 
this time to see more of our world and to have com- 
pany rather than to be alone) . We agreed to own it to- 
gether ; he to buy the material, I to make it. Finally we 
got it inclosed, windows in, door hung and canvas-cov- 

112 



ered top. We changed to Fifty-fifth street off 
Broadway. We learned by this time that continuous 
company would not be agreeable to us ; so decided to 
dissolve partnership. We offered tO' buy their half in- 
terest in the new house, but "they had become attached 
and their ambition was to travel ;" so I offered to sell 
my half interest to them for $33.00 cash. They had no 
money. ''Give us thirty days' time, please ; here are our 
gold watches for security." So saying, he handed me a 
lady's gold watch, and taking his own off its chain, 
handed it to me. I examined them. Upon the face of 
his was his name — Edwin L. Bascom. A year and four 
months passed, and we hold the watches as mementoes. 
He may some day be able to redeem their watches. 
They had desired I make theirs a house on wheels. I 
said : *'No. No opposition ; we have the only house on 
wheels in the world, and it shall continue to be." 

OUR COMPLETE BOOK. 

On January 15th, 1898, the weather was so severe we 
decided not to work the streets till winter gave way, so 
rented stalls, got lot room at No. 60 Cherry street ; de- 
cided to thoroughly overhaul our house and refit it for 
renewed travel, so rented rooms and commenced to en- 

113 



joy a rest from visitors. We were not Idle. I wrote a 
portion of our complete history of our trip. We had 
persons offer to criticise and correct our copy. I 
said : "No ; this is not a literary work, but a plain state- 
ment of facts of our trip across America in our only 
house on v/heels. We claim originality of expression, 
copying after no one." 

After writing and correcting our own copy I went 
to the different publishing houses, and soon discovered 
New York publishers' prices high, so decided to do our 
own work. Publishers tried to dissuade me, saying 
"not being experienced, it would cost me more." I had 
been accustomed to opposition, so tried it; placed the 
copy in a printer's hands, read my proof; got an elec- 
trotyper to make the plates ; bought my own paper from 
a paper house ; got a press house to print them, a bind- 
ery to bind and trim them, and had 2,000 copies made 
as a trial. On counting the cost we had saved $115.00 
on the lowest offer we had received from any of the 
publishers in the city. 

Finding the cost to be so much, even doing as we 
did, we decided to publish our book in serial form ; so 
eighty pages was the amount decided upon, and during 
1898 thousands of copies sold. 
114 



OUR TRA^^ELS OF 1898. 
Having rested ourselves and team for ten weeks; 
had had eighty pages of this book pubHshed. Our house 
refitted, March nearly gone, decided to go south and 
meet spring. On the 26th of March drove over to New- 
ark, N. J. ; bought a street permit, to learn after getting 
it we could sell upon the streets, but was not permitted 
to stop or attract a crowd; so the money was thrown 
away. We procured a lot in City center, and there in 
rear of the City Hall sold lots of our books. Imagine 
our surprise when selling our books to a crowd at 
IOC to hear a voice say "I paid 15c. for my book and 
picture, and I would not take a dollar for them.'' That 
being the case, let me have one here, and here, and here 
one, and so on. After supplying the demands I turned 
to find who caused the commotion and saw Mr. Bas- 
com. We learned they desired to travd in our company. 
We agreed; said we would leave on the 12th of April. 
Saying they would be on hand, he returned to New 
York. We waited till the 14th of April ; then started 
at Elizabeth, free permit; 15th, Rahway, free permit; 
i6th. New Brunswick, free permit. Sunday evening, 
17th, Bascom's drove into the yard. We were warned 
not to go to Princeton (college town). The students 

115 



would destroy our house. ** Tis natural to do that told 
not to do." On i8th arrived in Princeton. The college 
boys by hundreds surrounded us ; they cheered, hooted 
and yelled. We had been surrounded by wolves, and, 
accustomed to Indians, so wife and I were calm, but 
determined to defend our house against marauders and 
relic-getters. Between waves of wild yells I told them 
we demanded civil treatment and would allow no bar- 
barism, and if they intruded upon our rights I would 
shoot the intruder ; but if treated civilly we were agree- 
able and easy to get along with. They settled ; the 
worst ones retired ; the young gentlemen bought books ; 
we conversed with the professors ; all treated us kindly 
after the first attack. The people in town said they 
never saw the students act so well with any traveler as 
with us. We expect to visit them again. 

Mrs. Lasley " Tells Her Experience." 

Thinking it would be interesting to the reader, I (the 
wife of the author of this book and the proprietor of 
the HOUSE ON WHEELS) have concluded to ex- 
press my ideas of traveling. When I was quite a little 
girl I used to think and say, "Some day I will travel, if 
I am fortunate enough to have a husband." 
116 



I used to stand in front of the mirror and say, "Oh, 
dear, nobody will ever marry me, for I am so homely," 
but I learned that looks do not always count, and that 
dress does not make the man or the woman, for I was 
married before I was yet sixteen and have not re- 
gretted it. After marrying I commenced to think and 
plan how we could travel. I said, "Some day we will." 
We first did farming near Greeley, Colo. I helped my 
husband in the field. I learned to drive a team, to ride 
and plow, to cultivate the crops, &c., while my husband 
did the irrigating and ditching. We bought a team, 
plows, wagon, seed and harvesters on time, and got 
them all paid for except the harvester. In the Fail a 
note came due. The agent closed upon us, and our 
season's labor was swept away to pay and settle. My 
husband then got a Winter school at good price. In 
the Spring we located in Ft. Collins, Colo., and opened 
a shop. We did well, got us a house lot and com- 
menced to make us a home. 

In 1887 my health gave way. Our doctor said I 
could not live thirty days longer unless I was taken 
out into the open air. My husband disposed of his 
business and got an outfit (see pages 2y and 28 of this 
book). 

How delighted I was ; now I would see some of the 
world at least. Having started, we kept on and on 
until we reached Washington Territory (as it was 

117 



then). By the way, my folks were all there, and they 
acted as a magnet for me at least. After having many 
hardships, my health was perfectly restored ; my desire 
for travel had started into a flame ; I believe I am a 
born traveler. I contented myself in Port Angeles for 
nearly five years, only taking one trip over east of the 
mountains during that time. One day my husband 
said he was going to California alone. Think of it! 
Leave his family to shift for themselves. I said : 
''Never will I consent for you to go alone. You gave 
up your business for my benefit ; now I will go along, 
and together we will face the world as it comes." My 
husband had poor health ; we had no money ; our out- 
look was blue, so blue it was turning black. My hus- 
band asked for my idea of how we could all go along. 
I laid the plan of the Lasley Traveling Palace (known 
as the HOUSE ON WHEELS). You, reader, know 
how hard it was for my husband to be convinced that 
my idea of travel could be carried out. Finally all ob- 
jections being met, we (my husband and I) went into 
the forest with axes, saws, sledge, wedges and frowe. 
He selected a fine large white cedar tree, and we 
chopped and sawed, it seemed to me, for about three 
hours until finally, crack ! and there it goes, and the 
once giant of the forest lay at our feet as a conquered 
foe. That was only the beginning, for the tree had to 
be converted into shakes and lumber for our HOUSE 

1 18 



ON WHEELS. 

We sawed out a chunk, split it into bolts; then rived 
it into material for our house, carried it to our lot, and 
there my husband made our house on wheels. I 
helped some in its construction. It finally being ready 
to move into, my heart almost failed me. When we 
commenced to move into it, so many things I thought 
I must have and no room to put them, but I sorted 
them, then sorted again and again, until finally I 
adapted my wants to the room. I must admit I felt 
rather cramped for room for a week or two until I got 
used to things. How little we realized what we had 
made or what we had undertaken. I did not then 
know we had made something that the people would 
care to look at and run after to see. My folks told us 
we were foolish ; friends said we would soon be back. 
Others said we could never get far with ''that thing." 
We said we did not know as we could, but we could 
try. Many an eye was moist when we bid our friends 
a last farewell and started on a long trip. The roads 
in Washington are almost impassable in the Spring and 
hard to travel over. I was lighthearted because I was 
realizing my long hope — traveling. We ran out of 
money, could get no work ; we suffered for food ; in 
places we could not get even water to drink. We met 
with people that snubbed us ; still I did not despair. I 

said to myself, "I must brace up, for it was I that had 

119 



planned this way to travel." I tried to brace up, but 
pen can never half express what we endured. You 
may say, "Why did you not stop in some nice town?" 
We could not ; nothing to stop for ; people living in the 
towns were, if anything, worse off than we were. We 
went forward, guided by an unseen Hand, whither we 
knew not. 

Traped in my own CAGE: .... 

In every town people came running to see the curious 

looking wagon, as they called it. Imagine how I felt — 

never had I been used to face any number of people 

to talk to them, try to entertain them or to answer their 

questions. I thought them impudent. Our business? 

Where going ? Where from ? How far ? How long ? 

How many of us ? Why ? When going to stop ? When 

going away ? Do you tell fortunes ? Are you gypsies ? 

Who are you ? Have you any money ? How do you 

make a living? are a few of the many questions asked 

us by all the callers, both old and young, great and 
small. At first I closed the door in their faces; that 

only excited their curiosity, and they went for the win- 
dows. I finally submitted to be looked at and be ques- 
tioned until now I can cook our meals or attend to my 
home duties with a thousand looking at me and not 
worry me a bit. 

The largest audience we had was In San Francisco. 

120 



The people came by thousands. We got newspaper 
notoriety owing to our mode of travel. We had trav- 
eled 1,200 miles. My desire to travel more was 
greater than ever ; I desired to travel East. My hus- 
band had many fears as to us getting far upon the road. 
I said : "We have come 1,200 miles ; we can go further." 
In June, 1895, we started again. Every day a few 
miles, slow but sure ; but what of that ; we were trav- 
eling, seeing the world ; that was my fond desire. We 
again had many hardships. Sometimes for days we 
saw no one but foreigners, and they were looking 
after the railroad track. They refused us water ; miles 
and miles of nothing to see but sage and rabbit brush, 
soap weed and cacti. Our eyes became tired of the 
monotony. "Look yonder !" we exclaim. "See !" the 
beautiful forest and shining lake of sparkling water. 
How we longed for the refreshing shade and a boat 
ride on the lake. Impatient to reach the place, we 
hurry up our horses, when, lo ! we are doomed to dis- 
appointment. Looking again in a few minutes the 
forest and lake had disappeared, and only sage and al- 
kali bottoms were in sight. Mountains, forests, cities, 
lakes and rivers have appeared to our views as plain 
as ever the real ones ever did, only to dissolve again, 
to our disgust. 

This mirage is deceiving. It has lured many poor 
traveler beyond his ability to return, and their bones 

121 



were found where, exhausted, they had died. We press 
forward, for go we must; to stop meant certain death. 
On and on, ten, twenty, thirty or more miles per day — 
same to see (just nothing). But look! Are we sure of 
our sight ? Yes, yes. Away in the distance we could see 
the Rocky Mountains, their snow-capped peaks loom- 
ing up. As we came nearer, how grand those lofty 
peaks, standing as silent judges over those lesser ones 
around them. But when we began to ascend them, to 
us they had lost their beauty, though still grand in 
size. We had crossed many mountains, before the 
Rockies, but these were most difficult. Our team and 
ourselves were all tired out. The mountains in places 
are twelve miles up the sides of them ; they are about 
the same down. Up, down, then repeat again and 
again, until from the top of one of the foothills we saw 
the fine city of Denver, Col. 

I fancy I hear you, reader, say: "Oh, the beautiful 
scenery you have enjoyed!" Yes, we have seen some 
of the grandest scenery the mind could conceive of. If 
we could get wealth from scenery we would be very 
rich indeed ; but we become tired of looking at even 
grand things. Just to think ! We have been up in the 
air two and one-fourth miles high, the clouds way be- 
low us in the valleys. We have gathered flowers with 
one hand and put the other hand in banks of snow ; 
snowballed each other in July. I was heartily sorry 

122 



many a time I had ever started, but I wisely kept it to 
myself. 

You see how determined we were to succeed. Near- 
ly everybody said ''You can't get to New York with 
that thing ; it will fall to pieces before you go ten miles 
further." 

t^" SOME NERVE TESTERS. 

It took more than ordinary perseverance, with con- 
stant care, keeping in good humor and being full of 
hope. We did succeed beyond measure. You may say 
you would have thought that we would have found 
some place that would have suited our fancy, and we 
would have said this is good enough for us, and would 
have stopped, but I was determined to visit the City 
of New York, besides the intervening ones. Although 
it took us over two years to travel from San Fran- 
cisco to New York, I am heartily glad I made the trip. 
It is rich in experience. From Denver to New York 
is a long, hard, lonely road to travel ; but it is fine and 
pleasant as compared with some of the first of the 
road. At times we suffered from the heat and for the 
want of water. Some of the water in Texas was so 
foul our horses and dog refused to drink it. We had 
to strain it to use it at all. We learned to drink any 
kind of water that we could swallow. We were slowly 
traveling over one of the mesas, our team as well as 

123 



ourselves nearly famished for water. Water, water, 
was all we desired. Suddenly we saw a man coming 
toward us (upon the road). We thought surely we 
would soon come to a ranch and get water. When we 
met we asked if he could tell us where we could find 
water. He asked us the same question. We answered 
him. He said : ''About fifteen miles ahead you will 
come to an old sheep ranch. There is an old well there., 
If you have a rope you can draw enough out for a 
drink around." We thanked him, but our hearts al- 
most failed us. It was now high noon. We renewed 
our courage and pushed forward. We passed through 
a field of ripe unharvested wheat. We let our horses 
eat it, also rubbed some in our hand's and ate it. It al- 
leviated our thirst a little. Still we craved water. To- 
ward evening we came to the place; gathered all the 
rope we had (the well was seventy-five feet deep) ; 
with a small bucket we could get about a pint at a time. 
We all drank, and drank, a little at a time. We gave 
some to our team and dog; until, when all thirst was 
satisfied, we took a look at the water. It was rather 
muddy-like. When, horrors ! it was literally filled with 
water lice and remains of dead mice. Say, reader, were 
you ever real thirsty in your life ? That was but one of 
many experiences we have had to undergo. The chil- 
dren and myself have stayed alone until near midnight, 
while my husband, with the team and our dog, went 

124 



down into some canyon in search of water. They, start- 
ing before dark, always succeeded. But, oh my ! under 
what risk. The children would go to sleep ; then I was 
alone; no, not alone either, for, listen, hear those 
sounds — 'tis the howling of approaching wolves. Hear 
them all around ; there must be a dozen or more. They 
make the cold chills run over me for the safety of my- 
self and children. I have no fear for my husband ; he 
has the dog ; and wolves, unless they are very hungry, 
will not bother where there is a dog. I plucked up 
courage, went to the brink of the mountain and hal- 
loed as loud as I could, and listened for an answer. 
There was not a sound but the howling of those wolves. 
I returned and waited ; then tried again. Finally, away 
in the distance I heard a faint far-away answer. It 
was a welcome sound, and ere long my careworn hue- 
band is again with his loving family. He has a couple 
of gallons of water he has carried about six miles. 

But our journey has not been all unpleasant by any 
means. Many pleasant memories we retain of friends 
we have made and beautiful and pleasing things we 
have seen. We recall the visit of my husband's sister 
and her family to see us when in 'Frisco. We enjoyed 
their good company so much. We persuaded them to 
remain in 'Frisco, and she writes us they are pleased 
with their choice. My husband's brother visited us 
when near Denver. This we greatly appreciated ; but 

125 



my husband's moneyed sister (land poor) did not fa- 
vor our mode of travel, and a chill we felt while in 
her company. In every state we have met very fine 
people indeed, and some just the reverse. Many times 
we have been invited into strangers' houses and been 
elegantly entertained, some few times for two or three 
days at a time. We felt more than thankful for their 
kindnesses. 

OUR EXPERIENCE WITH A STRANGE 
WOMAN. 

We were in northern Indiana in the month of March. 
The towns are few and far apart and the roads had 
been muddy, now frozen ; travel slow. My husband had 
tried to get accommodation of the farmers for shelter 
for our team, but as usual the farmers all said ''No 
room ; am sorry ; go to next neighbor." The sun was 
getting low, when I said : ''Let Viola try ; maybe they 
won't refuse a child." We came to a large, finely fitted 
place. "Go in, Viola, and try for shelter for our faith- 
ful horses." Rap, rap. "Who's there? What do you 
want?" we heard. "Are any of you sick? Are you in 
distress? Are you lousy? Are you honest? Can you all 
read?" These questions being answered to her satis- 
faction, she said : "I'll see." She slipped on her wraps 
and she and her husband came out to look us over. 
They counselled. Said he : "Take your horses and put 

126 



them under the shed. There is hay hi the mow and 
corn in the barn. Help yourself." So saying, they both 
returned to the house. "Viola, please go ask the woman 
to sell us a loaf of bread for supper." Said she : "No, 
I won't sell you any bread." I was preparing to make 
some hot cakes or biscuits and arranging for our meal. 
Looking out we saw the woman approaching (to give 
us a lecture, we supposed). Said she, in a rough voice : 
"You can't have any bread, milk nor anything else." 
I said : "Thank you." "I want you all to come into my 
house to supper." I protested. She insisted. "Just as 
you are, come ajong, right now." Fearing to refuse, 
we went. Oh, the style. On entering her house her 
tone changed. She was an angel in disguise. Her 
table was loaded with ham, eggs, potatoes, rice, onions, 
tea, coffee, bread, butter, pie, cake, fruits. The house 
was nicely carpeted and thoroughly warmed — a per- 
fect home. Said she: "Make yourselves at home. 
Children, romp all you please and enjoy yourselves." 
They had two of their own. I helped her wash up the 
supper dishes. My husband chatted with her man. 
Nearing bedtime, we said we would go out to our 
house. "No," said she, "I have night suits, etc. You 
are all going to stay in here over night." She said that 
was her religion. We submitted. Oh, such nice beds ! 
Their hands looked after the horses, and another day 
and night she detained us within her walls and insisted 
127 



upon us stopping longer. We learned to love her for 
her kindness. Her memory we cherish. Their name is 
Webster. Treatment like that is Christian. 

When we drove into the City of Greater New York 
how our hearts leaped for joy. We had succeeded in 
doing something nobody had ever accomplished — 
crossed America in a House on Wheels. 

After arriving we were like a cat in a strange house. 
We were all over the city in no time, dodging here, 
there and everywhere, seeing the sights, like a pano- 
rama. I desire to state here that New York people 
are fine to sell books to. In fact, every city we visited 
(where the people are intelligent) we sold our books 
in great numbers ; more so in the East than out West. 
We find the Eastern people very clever. The officers In 
most of the places are very obliging, allowing us to 
stop wath our house on wheels upon the streets and 
stay as long as we desired and sell all the books we 
could. Especially kind in Washington, D. C. ; Chester, 
Philadelphia, New York, Bridgeport, Providence, New- 
port, Taunton, Beverly, Portsmouth, Albany, Buffalo, 
Little Washington, Wheeling, Columbus, Cincinnati, 
St. Louis and San Francisco. We have had some novel 
experiences with the wearers of blue coats with brass 
buttons. Some of them delight to show their authority, 
but we were generally equal to the occasion. 



128 



AN IMPUDENT OFFICER. 

In the beautiful city of Bridgeport we had stopped on 
one of the streets. My husband had gone in search of 
a stable with a yard attached, when suddenly I heard a 
gruff voice say: ''Where is the owner of this outfit?" 
I said : "Gone out on business." Said he : ''When did 
you water this team last?" I answered: "Just as we 
drove into this city." "I don't believe it," said he. I 
said : "You don't have to believe it." Said he : "I don't 
believe you have watered or fed this team for a week." 
I told him he was a fool for want of sense. The idea of 
us not caring for our team. "If you are so much in- 
terested in other people's business you can go buy a 
sack of oats and feed the team, if you wish to," I said. 
As to the team being thirsty, he was judging them by 
himself. He was partially angry and partially amused 
at my talk back to him. A bystander suggested I ask 
him how about that old, blind, stringhalted, spavined, 
half-starved horse he used to drive before he was elect- 
ed inspector. I did so, but he made no answer. I asked 
him to show his badge. He said he had forgotten to 
put it on. When my husband came he tried his bark 
upon him, but my husband laughed at him and told him 
he would take care of our team without any of his help. 
He finally took his leave, having met his equal for once. 
He returned and bought a book of me, saying he 

129 



bought it because I had defended our cause so nobly. I 
expect we will meet him again this Summer. If so I 
will sell him the book that this is in. 

We have had several like experiences ; but it takes 
all kinds of things and people to make up our experi- 
ence. After having rough, hard times, to succeed in 
some places, we know how to appreciate the better and 
finer things of life. Kind reader, I will leave you to 
judge for yourself whether I enjoy traveling. I an- 
swer you, 'tis my choice to see the world. 

We will travel another season in America. Then, if 
all is well, go over to Europe, and to Paris in time for 
the exposition. Home again, w^e expect to settle some 
place in the West. Now, dear reader, if you have not 
seen our little House on Wheels it will more than pay 
you to come and see a genuine curiosity, thoroughly 
original with us. We lead, others may follow. Finan- 
cially we were at the foot of the ladder. Now we are 
steadily climbing upward. Some day we will have a 
stationary home ; but we will see the world first. Who 
is it but says : „" When I get money I am going to see 
the world." We are enjoying the sights of the world 
and making a good living at the same time. Please 
don't misjudge us — come and see for yourself. We are 
known as the happy family. If you are skeptical as to 
us having made this trip, come, examine our creden- 
tials and your doubts will fly away. i 

130 ■ __ ' 



MY HUSBAND. 

Most wives will end their story with : 
"Ah, well, men are but human." 

I long to tell the secret of 
A truly happy woman. 

Through all the sunshine-lighted years, 

Lived now in retrospection. 
My husband's word brought never tears, 

Nor caused a sad reflection. 

Whate'er the burdens of the day, 

Unflinching, calm and steady, 
To bear his part — the larger half — 

I always find him ready. 

House-cleaning season brings no frown, 

No sarcasm, pointed keenly; 
Through carpets up, and tacks head down 

He makes his way serenely. 

Our evenings pass in converse sweet, 

Or quiet contemplation. 
We never disagree, except 

To "keep up conversation."' 

And dewy morn of radiant June, 

Fair moonlight of September, 
April with bird and brook atune. 

Stern, pitiless December — 

Each seems to my adoring eyes 

Some new grace to discover. 
For he, unchanging through the years, 

Is still my tender lover. 

131 



Adieu, dear reader. 

MRS. MARY L. LASLEY. 
Queen of the Traveling Palace. 

(Our Card.) 



M. E. A. Lasley. Mary L. Lasley. 

KING AND QUEEN 

OF 

THE ONLY HOUSE ON WHEELS, 

OR 

I LASLEY' S TRAVELING PALACE. 

I 

I JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD. 



(1^^ THE KING NOW TALKS AGAIN :) 
A BARBAROUS RECEPTION. 

April 20th B's and us drove on to the streets of Tren- 
ton, at the Monument. We learned the business center 
was seven or eight blocks away, so he and I went down 
to get a central stable and yard ; some trouble to find ; 
got location in \]. S. Hotel yard. Returning, we found 
his house, but mine gone, no one knew where. Inquired 
of patrolman. He said he had driven an outfit off the 
street. I asked ''why he had not moved the other one, 

132 



too." Said "there was no crowd around the other one.'* 
I asked if any of my family was selling books. Said 
"No." "Why did you move them ?" " 'Cause I wanted 
to." "Where are they?" Said he: "Don't know and 
don't care." I respect an officer, but not such a thing 
as that. Some boys came running up ; said they could 
find my house on wheels for me. Gladly I followed 
down the avenue, turned into a street, then into an 
alley, finally into a lot in the rear of a saloon. I greeted 
my family and asked how they came to be there. Wife 
said a policeman had moved them three times. ^ 
saying "if she did not leave the highways he would 
pull the outfit." Finally this woman ofifered this en- 
closed lot free. My wife gave two books and pictures 
to the woman for her kindness. On going out of the 
lot a man demanded 50 cents rent. I told him to get it, 
and drove out. After arriving at the hotel yard I went 
for a street permit. Failed. Reported the police action 
to tbe chief. Said he: "I presume the officer did just 
right." I told him New York people spoke of them as 
foreigners, and they impressed it upon us. We had 
never been treated as rudely over 6,000 miles of travel. 
Trenton's police are the most rude of any met with. At 

133 



Bristol free permit; sold 120 books; fine people; fine 
officers. 

(Newspaper Clippings, Headlines.) 

"A House Wagon." 

"Built for Travel Across the Continent." "From 
Pt. Angles, Washington." 
"Large Crowds Gather to See Lasley's 'House on 

Wheels' at U. S. Hotel." 
— Daily True American, 
Trenton, N. J., April 23, i! 



April 22: Philadelphia. Police extra kind. They got 
us good location, corner Frankford and Hart lane. We 
saw City Clerk, Mayor and Chief of Police. They 
seemed surprised at me asking for a permit. "Why, 
brother, thee dost not need a permit at all to sell litera- 
ture upon our streets ; go ahead, sell all you can ; don't 
stay too long in. one place to cause a jam. Good day. 
Success." Central lot location ; hard to get ; so from 
Snider avenue and Seventeenth street we worked the 
south side of the city. We visited Navy Yard ; Govern- 
ment officers showed kindness. We got relics and sou- 
venirs from battleships ; visited the Mint, City Hall, 
etc. Fine city ; clever people. We sold our books in 
the city until May 9th, then south again. Free permit 
at Wilmington ; lot of books sold ; officers clever. 

134 



CLOSE CALL. 

On going over one of the hills of Delaware we en- 
countered a storm. Oh, how the lightning flashed ! It 
blinded us. We could hear it swizz as it cut the air ; the 
heavens burned with the heat ; the horses stopped and 
reeled, our brains seemed to be on fire. Three, times the 
lightning struck within less than fifty feet of us. Fol- 
lowing the electric display the rain descended in tor- 
rents, flooding the road and washing great gullies on 
the hillside. After passing from around us the storm 
abated. 

Our house does not leak, so we care but little about a 
rainstorm. After crossing the (seemingly deserted) 
hills of western Delaware we arrived in Baltimore on 
May 1 6th. 

MY DARING ACT BRINGS REWARD. 
Stopped our house at a corner. I went to look for a 
stable. I found one, but it was a high-toned coach 
stable, fine office, etc. They had no room, did not know 
of any and did not care to be bothered. I thanked them. 
Turning to leave the office I saw there was a storm on 
hand, so remained indoors ; it thundered and lightened ; 
the rain poured down, the gutters soon filled with wild, 

135 



rushing water, carrying debris of all kinds. It changed 
to hail ; it pelted everything ; some of the stones were 
an inch in diameter. Just then some one cried : "J^^st 
see! Yonder comes old Dave's team." With others I 
looked out. Sure enough, yonder came dashing up the 
street a runaway, the large horses dragging a wagon. 
Ahead of them stood a row of carriages, the occupants 
inside not knowing the danger coming. I looked to see 
who would risk their life to save the people. No one 
stirred. I knew my ability and courage. I quickly 
gauged the speed, out I flew, leaped as far as I could 
over the raging water (getting wet only to my thighs). 
Soon was elongslde of the runaway ; grasped the bridle 
and swinging to them I sheered them away from the 
carriages and by voice and pulling soon had them 
stopped. The proprietor and men at the stable were 
so much interested they ran out upon the walk into the 
storm to get a better view of my action. Soon the 
owner appeared, breathless. He thanked me kindly. I 
returned to the stable to await the storm's abatement. 
The proprietor was the first to speak. "J. say, stranger, 
where is your House on Wheels ? Go bring it around 
here. I'll find you a good place to stop ; am sorry we 
have no place here for you ; such a fine, daring act as 

136 



that of yours deserves to be rewarded." Storm over, I 
found my house. They had been sheltered by a large 
building. I returned to the stable. "I say, Sam, saddle 
up that bay horse ; go show this man the best way to the 
Hand hotel stable yard. I say ! \ ou make sure he gets 
there O. K. Keep him around on those smooth, best 
streets." "All right, sah," and a finely dressed colored 
man with a large umbrella proceeded to carry out his 
order. "I say, madame, we ought to have some of those 
books I see you have for sale ; give us out here about 
a dozen. Only $1.25 ; that is good. Good by. Sam, go 
slow, be sure." The best streets in places were worse 
than in any city we ever traveled through. After about 
two miles of twisting about we were told by our guide 
we had arrived safely at the oldest hostelry in Balti- 
more ; they knew of our coming, arrangements having 
been made by telephone. It was a good location, very 
central. We would probably never have found it but 
for the above recorded incident. 

The city officials were dilatory in granting us a street 
permit ; so after four days headed for Washington, D. 
C, at which place we arrived on Monday, May 23. Dis- 
tance from New York, 245 miles by the road we came. 
137 



AT U. S. CAPITAL CITY. 

Calling upon the district officers for permit, they 
kindly assured us no permit was necessary. "Just go 
any place ; sell all the books you please." We put up at 
the Tyson hotel yard (another old hostelry of note). 
We met often and had pleasant chats with the owner of 
the place, Mr. Tyson. His family also called upon us. 
We stopped in front of the patent office, visited it, took 
views and sold books. We visited all the places of note, 
took views and sold our books. We were at the White 
House on a reception day; shook hands with our Pres- 
ident, presented to him one of our books and photos ; 
visited the Capitol, the Treasury by special permit (war 
rules), the Library, Smithsonian, Agricultural building, 
Washington's monument, the postoffice dead letter de- 
partment, the Government cemetery and other places 
of note. We took our house every place we visited, and 
while part of us visited the places the balance of the 
family sold books to those gathered to see our curious 
house ; then the other portion of our family visited and 
the first ones sold books. We never leave our house en- 
tirely alone (relic hunters too many). We had to guard 
It to keep it. If space would permit I would like to de- 

138 



scribe the places we visited, the things we saw, the 
beautiful large paintings at the Capitol, the beautiful 
grounds around the buildings, the statuary in the dif- 
ferent places in the city, the things we saw at the Na- 
tional Museum, the description of the monument and 
how constructed, the stairway going up (we walked 
up) ; the views we got and the sensation of riding down 
in the elevator. Suffice it, we enjoyed all the things to 
be seen. We went to Mount Vernon, visited Washing- 
ton's home, also his tomb, had a steamboat ride on the 
Potomac, then returned to Washington. The weather 
had become very hot and sultry ; so on June 9 we head- 
ed northward, arriving again in Baltimore on Satur- 
day, the nth. Crossing through the city, in front of 
the Barnard Hotel, I broke down a wheel and the 
coupling; paid $1.50 to a truck to haul our house three 
or four squares. On Monday we had the repairs made ; 
cost, $7.50. On Tuesday tried to cross the city again. 
On Baltimore street we broke the other front wheel 
tire; removed the wheel and took it to a shop to have 
it repaired. A crowd soon gathered; explanations of 
our position, and the family sold lots of books, till final- 
ly a patrolman came. He ordered my wife to leave the 
street. She said she was in her own home and was 

139 



satisfied to stay where she was. He said : ''If you don't 
move I'll pull you." ''Well, if you desire, and you think 
you are able, you can pull me; but it may be a heavier 
task than you are used to. Please, Mr. Officer, look 
around," said my wife (with a twinkle in her eye). On 
going to the front and seeing but three wheels he 
thought, as the wife said, ''he was not able to pull her," 
so decided to let it remain. He forbade her selling our 
books, but every time he turned his back she sold lots 
of them. Returning with the wheel, soon we were at 
rest at Eagle hotel yard. 

TWO STRANGE CHARACTERS. 

Soon after locating in the Eagle yard among those 
who came to see out outfit, buy our books, etc., were 
two certain young men. Said one: "I desire a kodak 
picture of your outfit, please, family and all." "Excuse 
us ; we never sit for a picture ; that curio we never al- 
io w^ We have photos of our complete outfit, well fin- 
ished, including the house, the family, the horses, our 
dog and our bird ; these we sell ; to give away kodak 
pictures of the same, we can't consider it," replied my 
wife. 

"I'll pay you for your trouble," said he. "How 
much?" 

140 



"About 25 cents, I presume/' ''Yes." ''Well, sir, 
your allowance is too small ; if you had offered $5.00 to 
be permitted to take a picture of our outfit maybe then 
you might have impressed my mind as being a liberal 
kodak fiend, but, sir, you will never get a picture of our 
outfit at all. If you desire one of our photos, here they 
are, for only 10 cents," said the Queen of the Traveling 
Palace, fitting action to her words. She exhibited sev- 
eral photos of the outfit complete, also personal photos. 
These did not suit him. He acted gruffly and left, to 
look around the house. His companion looked very 
much amused at the conversation. 

Said he: "I bought one of your books, and would 
like to more minutely examine your outfit. What, 
please, is this on this wheel ?" "There comes my hus- 
band. Say, dear, here are some people; if you show 
them around the house perhaps they will buy some 
books." I said to them, if they cared they might make 
a tour around the house. The register ; the construction 
of our house; the complication of the coupling; the 
map of our route; a large canvas painting; showed 
them we had our small wheels in the rear; showed a 
photograph taken of us when we were in San Fran- 
cisco. 

141 



. The clippings from newspapers from Pt. Angeles, 
Wash., to last ones in their city; I explained the con- 
struction of the inside of our house; then introduced 
our book and pictures. They having been entertained, 
bought lots of books of me. The kodak man and his 
chum seemed well pleased. "Please -give me one of 
those photos your wife spoke of," said his chum. I 
wrote our autograph with both my right and my left 
hand on the photo, claiming to be the champion right 
and left hand autograph writer. This interested him 
more than ever. He handed me 25 cents for it, saying 
"Keep the change." I thanked him. They departed. In 
the course of an hour he called again. "Have you some 
of those larger books? Please let me have three copies 
(35 cents each). I wish you well. Good day." He re- 
tired. Again he returned. "You have other photos, 
have you not?" "Yes." "Please let me have one of 
each. One, two, three, four ; here is a dollar. They are 
worth it. The photos of noted travelers like you people 
can't be gotten every day. I desire them to place in my 
cabinet. Here is my card. Don't fail to write me. — Dr. 
Gilbert Smith, No. — , Baltimore. If you desire a 
physician while in the city I am at your service, free. 
Good day." I showed his card to my wife. "I could 

142 



have told you he was a physician," said my wife. ''The 
business of the kodak fiend ?" "Why, he is a lawyer, of 
course," said she. Physicians treat us with more con- 
sideration than any other class of professional men. 
With pleasant memories revived by Dr. Smith's action 
we retired for the night, thankful our lot was as pleas- 
ant as it is. Our day's sale was $13.70. Next morning, 
the 15th, wife soon had breakfast over and I the team 
fed. Visitors began to arrive early, among them Dr. 
Smith. Said he: 'T came early for fear you might 
have concluded to leave town. I desire to give you a 
little present. Come with me ; won't take long." I fol- 
lowed. Into a fine grocery store. "Please put me up 
some staple groceries, such as a family can use ; we will 
take them with us." Coffee, sugar, flour, bacon, prunes, 
rice, tea, etc. I called a halt. "Please don't break my 
outfit down; cost money for repairs." He smiled and 
said : "You can use them ; they will come in handy." He 
hailed a passing car, saying, "We will return this way." 
We chatted about our country, of hunting, fishing, etc. 
He said he would enjoy traveling as we are, etc. At the 
car door he said : "Be good to yourself ; good by." My 
wife was agreeably surprised upon opening the pack- 
ages. 

143 



On the 1 6th just as we were leaving the yard up 
came our friend, Dr. Smith. "Here is a letter. You can 
use it." It read : "I have thoroughly investigated and 
have found that the Lasleys of the House on Wheels 
are just as they represent themselves to be — from the 
state of Washington — and I heartily recommend them 
to all intelligent people. The family is one of interest. I 
give them permission to use this recommendation as 
they see fit."— (Signed) Gilbert Smith, M. D. "Be 
sure and write me. Don't forget to send me new photos. 
Good by. God bless you." With pleasant memories 
again we started north. On Tuesday, June 21, we ar- 
rived at Philadelphia. Having worked the city as we 
went south concluded to drive on through. At noon 
drove upon a vacant lot in Tioga to feed and get our 
dinner. Before dinner was over a large crowd had gath- 
ered and we had sold lots of books. One old lady, with 
tears in her eyes, said : 'T have bought your books and 
photos. I have been reading about you in the papers. 
I have all your pictures and history I could get. I am 
so glad to have found you ; seems like I have knawn 
you before. Please stay till to-morr©w, so my family 
can come and see you all." I went to a livery stable ailU 
joining and found them white pe.ople. Hay and slablin^; 

144 



over night for our two horses only 2i7 cents — lowest 
price recorded east of Buffalo; average cost, $i.oo per 
night for hay only. We stayed. We lectured, our books 
sold well. Repeated day after day until the week wore 
away. 

FEW NEWSPAPER HEADLINES. 
"Across a Continent in a Large Wagon." 
"The Lasley Family's Long Journey in Their House 
on Wheels. 

"A Four Years' Ride; Two Children Have Been 
Born in the Conveyance — How They All Live." 

"Philadelphia Inquirer," April 27, 1898. 

LASLEY'S PARLOR CAR. 
"The Only House on Wheels That Has Crossed the 
American Continent." 

"The Republican," May 10, il 



"From Over Western Hills and Mountains A 
Unique Vehicle Came Into Baltimore Last Night, Its 
Occupants Having Had Many Strange Experiences 
En Route." 

"The World," Baltimore, Md., May 17, 1898. 



"LIFE IN HOME ON WHEELS. 
"Lasley Family's Wonderful Experiences Within 
Four Years. — Rode 6,700 Miles for Health. 

"Forded Rivers, Crossed Mountains, Sweltered in 
sun at 120, Froze in Snow at 18 Below Zero." 

"Philadelphia Record," May 15, 1898. 

145 



After leaving Philadelphia we were soon at Prince- 
ton, June 28, town very quiet. 

At Elizabeth the officers were kind, but not the 
mosquitoes. 

At Jersey City took ferry for Brooklyn. 

At Coney Island we procured a location at $25.00 
per week; we sold books, bathed and with compli- 
mentary tickets enjoyed flying ponies, shoot the 
rapids, shoot the chutes, Ferris wheel. City of Cairo, 
the bikes, the ponies, scenic railroads, etc. 

"There is but one Coney Island." After seeing 
the sights and enjoying the delightful ocean baths 
and cooling sea breezes we prepared for our sum- 
mer northeast trip by repairing our house and re- 
fitting the wheels and other necessary repairs. We had 
again domiciled at Convent avenue and 150th street 
(Washington Heights stables), where the proprietor 
had said ''You are welcome to return whenever you 
see fit," which we did, and as a business man he re- 
ceived us cordially. We had made many friends there 
and they were glad to see us return, shook our hands 
and said: "We welcome you back again." 

"ACROSS THE CONTINENT." 
"The Lasley Family Traveled in Their Own House." 
146 



''Evening Star," Washington, D. C, May 26, 1898. 
"Home on Wheels Came 7,000 Miles, In It a Family 
Has Lived for More Than Four Years. 
"To Make Tour of Europe. 

"Came Over Brooklyn Bridge Into Manhattan Yes- 
terday and Drew Big Crowd." 

"The World," New York, July 20, 1898. 



The following is one of many recommends given 
without being asked, showing we have been where we 
say we have, also showing what people think of us: 

"Office of Hugh Reilly, New York, Dec. 13, 1897. 

"This is to certify that Mr. M. E. A. Lasley, proprie- 
tor of the House on Wheels, has been my tenant from 
Dec. 6 to date. He has been honest and fair and has 
acted in a gentlemanly manner. Also his wife deserves 
great credit for keeping herself and family so neat and 
clean. 

(Signed) "HUGH REILLY, 

''Proprietor Merchants' Stables, 510 to 524 W. 14th 

street, New York." 

On leaving Mr. Reilly said: "If you are in this part 
of the city again you are welcome to stop here again." 
All liverymen have said the same. 



Being again in readiness, we bade our new friends 
adieu. We drove over by Boston road to New Ro- 
chelle. The officers procured us a central lot location 
and were very clever. They gave us the privilege of 
selling our books on Sunday to any who desired to 

147 



buy, of which there were many, and they all seemed to 
be church goers or comers. 

July 25th, at Port Chester, we paid $1 for the privi- 
lege of selling our books on a private lot. The resident 
business men (when they heard me tell of it) insisted I 
go and demand it paid back. I objected, because the 
amount was so small. They insisted on me doing it, so 
I did so, but the city clerk said he had turned the 
money into the treasurer. So no pay for my trouble. 
It became noised about us being there and a very at- 
tentive audience gathered in the evening. We sold 
lots of books. Robert sang, then he took up his usual 
collection. He got $1.70, the largest collection he ever 
received for singing. Fine, clever people. 

QUEER TERMINUS TO AN ACCIDENT. 

"Let me ride your wheel a little bit, young man," 
said I to one of the visitors. "Will it hold me up?" 

*'Oh, yes." I mounted and had not ridden it five rods 
when down went the hind wheel. Examining it, I found 
it had been broken and repaired before. I returned his 
\vheel to him and said: "You go get the rim repaired 
and I will help pay for it." He went to a shop, ordered 
a new wheel complete and said to present the bill to the 

148 



proprietor of the House on Wheels, which they did. I 
refused to pay the bill ($3.60), but said I would pay 
half. His father became indignant. He went to a law- 
yer, then to a judge; had a case made out; had me 
brought (by a constable) before the judge. He stated 
his case. I stated my side. I offered again to pay half 
on the new wheel. He said: ''I want all or none." The 
judge again asked him if he rejected half. He said he 
did. The judge said: "Lasley, you are dismissed. Mr. 

, you must pay the costs." I went on about our 

business (of selling our books). He bothered us no 
more, preferring "no loaf to half a one," and that a new 
one. 

A CLEVER BUSINESS MAN! 
At Stamford July 2J. Free street permit on square; 
big crowds ; big sale of book. While my wife was lec- 
turing I was selling books. A nicely dressed man ap- 
proached. Said he: "Here is my card. After you close 
business come to my place for supper." "Thanks," 
said I, "we will, with pleasure." At 9.30 p. m. we drove 
to his business place. Soon we were enjoying a repast 
lit for a regal king and queen. 

(Obiter dictum of John H, Lee by Lasley.) 
149 



Oh, you noted people, whoever you may be, 
Will surely be invited by this Silver Dollar Lee, 
Be you sport or politician. 

No difference you will see, 
You will all be dined and wined, 

By smart Silver Dollar Lee. 
His place is one of beauty; 

You will easy see the sign; 
If you look upon the marble floor. 

You'll think you've found a mine. 
And don't you be misguided, 

For this Silver Dollar Lee 
lias used the artist's, sculptor's 

And mechanic's skill, you'll see. .] 

Of one thing this man prides to tell, ■ .•' 

He always serves his patrons well. ■'' 

With elegance and grace their orders fill 
With best of everything on bill. 
When once you've gone, your song will ever be, 
I stopped, when in Port Stamford, with Silver Dol- 
lar Lee. 

MORE KINDNESS. 

Norwalk, 28. — Free street permit. Said Mr. H. G. 
Hamilton, "That is my hotel over there. Mr. Lee, of 
Stamford, desires you to dine with us. Dinner is wait- 
ing." 

Their dinner and service was fine. Toward evening 
a gentleman said to me: "My name is G. Fred Aus- 

150 



tin. I desire your family to eat supper at my place. T 
won't let neither Lee nor Hamilton be more cour- 
teous than I." We accepted. Oh, the fine supper, 
everything the market afforded. 

I said to my wife, 'The Yankees lead In cleverness." 
At Bridgeport, 29. — Free street permit, but poor lo- 
cation. Wall and Water streets. 

New Haven, 30. — No permit obtainable, although 
citizens said, "others were allowed upon the streets." 

'7,000 Miles on Wheels." 

"Family of Seven Who Make Their Home in a 
Wagon, 

"Reached This City Yesterday. 

"Journey for Health and Pleasure from Seattle; 
Flave Been Everywhere." 

"New Haven Register," July 31, 1898. 

Meriden, Aug. 6. — Free permit, good location, clev- 
er officers. 

"Traveling Palace." 

"House on Wheels Anchors in This City To-Day." 
"Daily Journal," Meriden, Conn., Aug. 6, 1898. 

HARSH TREATMENT. 

At Hartford, 8. — No permit obtainable. 

My wife and I had been down into the city and 
l)ought her a new bicycle. When we returned there 
was a crowd. We offered and sold few books. Soon 
a policeman came into the lot of the livery. Said he: 

151 



"All you people not belonging here will have to get 
out;" then he stood at the gate permitting no one to 
enter unless they had business with the livery. Being 
handicapped, we concluded not to pay out any more 
money there so pulled out to find more congenial peo- 
ple. 

Springfield, Mass. — The officers were very kind; 
they treated us like we were human beings. The sour 
makes the sweet taste sweeter. 

"A Home on Wheels. 

"Nomadic Life of a Family Which Arrived in Town 
Yesterday." 

"Springfield Republican," Aug. lo, i< 



At Worcester, Aug. 13. — At Hildreth's livery The 
Spy interviewed us, gave us fine, long, good, kind ar- 
ticle. The Spy is a nice, clean paper. The people 
are fine book buyers. 

''On Wheels — Strange House Appears." 

"HAPPY FAMILY 
'Ts Aboard and Has Traveled Four Years." 

"The Worcester Spy," Aug. 14, 1898. 

A CHANGED PROGRAMME. 

At South Framingham, Aug. 16. 

We had planned to store our outfit in Boston, then 
riding bicycles to 'Frisco as a family, then return for 
our European tour. My wife had bought her a wheel 

152 



in Hartford and immediately learned to ride it. We 
got Leona a wheel at South Framingham (she learned 
to ride it in less than two hours). 

Viola and I had ridden from Western New York. 
A-fterward I persuaded my wife to give up the trip for 
the present. She says she is going to ride a wheel yet 
across America. I presume she will. 

At Boston, Aug. 20. — Our experience in that city 
is not pleasant to remember. The officers tried to be 
clever, but there was so much red tape and so much 
cross sword of cliques that henchmen and principals 
were afraid of each other. There was more rudeness 
of speech than any other city we ever traveled in, even 
the motormen and conductors and nicely dressed 
women were in the habit of hallooing at persons differ- 
ing in looks from Boston people. We were glad when 
we left the narrow, rough, crooked, crowded streets of 
Boston, with its loud mouthed people, behind us. In 
proportion to the people, we sold less books in Boston 
and paid higher prices for things we bought, than in 
any city we had been in. We have lost no love for 
Boston. 

Reception at Lynn, Aug. 26. — Got good central lot, 
opposite depot. The papers gave us illustrated write- 
ups. We had thousands of visitors and we sold lots 
of books to them. Many kind words and good wishes 
were spoken. Stayed in Lynn for a week. 

1 53 - I 



At Beverly, Sept. 2. — Free location, side of city hall. 
Sold lots of books. 

At Salem Willows, Sept. 5. — (Labor Day). Was a 
hit for us; heaviest book sale made in New England up 
to this time. 

Portsmouth, N. H., Sept. 8. — Free permit; large 
sales. 

At Rochester Fair, Sept. 12. — Paid $10 for location. 
Fair no good for us. Weather frosty. 

SOUTHWARD. 

Through Exeter, Newton, At Haverhill, Sept. 19. — 
No permit, poor location on lot; few books. 

Lawrence, 22. — Free permit; good location. Sold 
lots of books; clever people. 

Lowelb Sept. 24. — No permit; officers snobbish. 
Children very rude; few books 

At Arlington, 28. — Fine people; clever officers. Sold 
lots of books. 

Cambridge no good. 

Quincy, 30. — No permit; good lot free; clever peo- 
ple; few books. 

At Brockton Fair, Oct. 3. — Location, $15; rain, 
rain. Wednesday and Thursday clear; immense 
crowds. Red letter day for us, Thursday; sold double 
number of books of Labor Day. Dinner with Big \\\- 
fant, of Western fame. Fine people, but very skep- 

154 



tical. 

At Taunton. — Free street. Papers gave us big puff. 
Lots of books; very clever people. 

Fall River no good. 

At New^port, Oct. 15. — Free permit; fine resort, 
Nice people and officers. On i8th tried Fall River 
again; paid $1 for street permit; no good. 

At Providence, R. I. — Free permit; fine location. 
Book, book, book their cry. In eight days sold over 
1,400 of them. Extra nice people; no rudeness; w^ell 
behaved. Got material; built us another house (on 
gears of wagon); got another horse; forvi^ard again. 

Nov. 21 at New London. — People skeptical; fev^ 
books. On 24th had fine turkey dinner; 25th our 
annex got on fire, damage $15. 

At Nev^r Haven, 26. — Snow storm stayed us; ap- 
plied for snow hauling; refused because I was not a 
resident. 

PRESS HEADLINES. 

''The Lasleys in Distress." 
''Family in House on Wheels stalled in ^Orange 
street. Couldn't get work in New Haven. Mayor 
Farnsworth declined to help out travelers from the Pa- 
cific coast, so are compelled to remain until the roads 
are passable. — Mr. Lasley and fine arts." 

New Haven "Register," Dec. 4, 1898. 

155 



THE BEGGARS OF 'FRISCO. 

For the first few days after arriving in 'Frisco star- 
vation was close to our door. We were too proud to let 
our condition be known, except to a few, as recorded 
(pages 71 and 72 of this book) ; the anguish was terri- 
ble until the change, as told on page 75 (this book) ; 
then we felt rich. We offered to feed any hungry per- 
son ; many accepted, but none of them seemed to be 
as hungry as we had been. Most of them asked for 
money to eat on. I said money to drink on, you mean, 
/^sking them to eat with us, their stomach gave the lie 
to their tongue. There was a fine eating place near by 
where a person could get all they could eat of good, 
nice, clean grub (Western term for edibles) for 10 
cents. For 30 cents we could get more than my family 
desired to eat. Before going to our meals I would say : 
^'Now, if there is any poor, hungry person here, come 
go and get a good free meal." One day I noticed a one- 
legged, young, poorly-clad beggar in the crowd. As 
usual, I put the same request. It struck him. *T'll go." 
*'You are welcome," said I. I had him eat at our table. 
I tried to find out his history, experience, etc. He would 
not carry on any conversation. He want'^.d to know if 
I was not a reporter in disguise. Assuring him I was 
not and was just a common traveler, he became more 
congenial. I tried to persuade him to eat enough to 
satisfy a hungry man, as he had said he was, but I 
failed. He ate but little, finished, excused himself and 
tried to leave. I retained him till we were done. After 

156 



paying the bill I said to the cashier: ''Any time this 
poor cripple desires a meal, let him have it. When we 
come for our meal I will pay his. He stepped out ahead 
of us, but I noticed he did not hurry away, but sidled 
toward a door and beckoned for me to corre. I slipped 
to his side, wondering what he now wanted. i 

Said he: "I am here to find out the truth. It has 
been reported to me that you offer to feed any poor per- 
son, and I came to try you. I am satisfied it is so. I 
want to tell you something. We beggars are organized 
and have a strong society, with money to our credit in 
the bank. I am the treasurer. You, sir, will never 
again be asked to give a beggar anything. You will 
know by their action after to-night. Good by." He was 
gone. We record the fact. 

that never again were we asked for money, or any- 
thing to eat while we were in the State of California. 



Bridgeport, Dec. 7. — Rested two days. Stamford, 
Dec. 10; New Rochelle, 13; Williams Bridge, 14; East 
117th street, Dec. 22. Free street permit. Sold our 
books at corner Third avenue and 125th street from 
our house. Fine people; clever officers. Sold lots of 
books, 



PAPER HEADLINES. 
'^The House on Wheels" at 531 East 117th street. 
"The Hon. M. E. A. Lasley, author, traveler and 
proprietor, may look like a 'durned fool,' but he has 
hit on 'how to get rich.' 
"Maybe he has as much brains as whiskers." 

The New York "Press," Jan. 14, 1899. 

157 



KIND NEIGHBORS. 

Our location was well chosen; neighbors soon called 
upon us, and asked us to call upon them. Among 
those whose friendship proved most sincere were J. G. 
Wilson and family, of 526 East 117th street; H. Mar- 
kle and family. We spent many pleasant evenings with 
them, and partook of their hospitality. They offered 
to care for us during the raging blizzard, but being 
comfortable in our little houses, we thanked them and 
remained cosey and warm within at our quarters. 

Thus ends our book, ''Across America in the Only 
House on Wheels." We have not (for want of space) 
gone into detail in things we would like to, but this 
is for the people, a cheap book for the masses. It 
shows how a poor but ambitious family can turn dis- 
aster into benefit, and be healthy, have a good living, 
enjoy life, see all, and be happy. Reader, you may ex- 
pect other publications, especially "Pioneer Life in the 
West; or. The Boy From a Buckeye Town." In- 
quire for it at dealers. 

Come and see our house. Buy our photos, especial- 
ly the photo of our boy singer, little Robert. Agents 
for this book wanted; terms liberal. Address, with 
stamp for terms, 

M. E. A. LASLEY, 

Author and Proprietor of Lasley's Traveling Palace. 
Address: General Delivery, New York City, N. Y, 

168 



AN OMISSION. 

Reading our book collectively, I find I have shown 
partiality, so this is added to even up. 

EXTRA CLEVER TREATMENT. 

After arriving at Wappinger Falls, N. Y., we came 
to a temporary halt in front of Sweet, Orr & Oo/s 
overalls and pants factory. Soon among others came 
a gentleman who proved to be Mr. Goring, superin- 
tendent of the factory. Said he, ''Would not you like 
to visit and inspect our factory? We are the biggest 
overall manufacturers in the world." I said, "With 
pleasure." I was especially interested in their cordu- 
roy suits, and asked how they were made, as I had 
worn many overalls of their make and not a pair ever 
ripped. There are more of Sweet, Orr & Co.'s over- 
alls, pantaloons and corduroy worn out West than 
all other makes put together. They give best satis- 
faction; command the best price. This statement 
from me pleased the superintendent amazingly. On 
passing through the cutting room, he ordered my 
measure taken, also measured Robert (our only boy). 
On returning to the office he asked our boy to remem- 
ber his name, so told him and us of a teacher by name 
of Goring who had a pupil who could not remember 
her name, so she said, 'Tf you desired to enter a large 
house, how would you get the door open?" "Why, 
I would go ring the bell," answered the child. Said 
the teacher, ''My name is Goring." After that the 
child remembered her as Go ring the bell. In coming 
out of the factory he handed me a package and said, 
"I hope they will fit. Wear them; remember the 
giver." As a compliment, I placed Sweet, Orr & Co.'s 
advertising card upon our house, and it was there 
when we drove into Newburg, N. Y., Sept. 30th, '97, 
their home factory location. 



A NEW SURPRISE. 

We had secured a street permit and there was a big 
crowd around us, books selling fast. A man witf 
quick step came up, asked me how I came to have 
that ad. upon there. I told him of our treatment b) 
Sweet, Orr & Co.'s superintendent, and that was i 
compliment to them. Said he, "Give me a dollar's 
worth of books, photos; well, yes, I'll take two dol- 
lars' worth of these fine photos of your outfit. Good-: 
day." And he was gone. Soon after a fine looking 
young man came up; said he, ''We have heard oi 
others. To-morrow you and family please call at out 
home factory of Sweet, Orr & Co." We did. We were 
kindly received by the superintendent, Mr. C. Wi 
Bartrum, and foreman. Myself and boy were the re^ 
cipients of another pair of corduroy pants. I have 
worn mine every day since, and not a hole or a break 
in them. They said, 'They will never rip." "Oh,", 
said I, 'T know that, for I have always chosen your 
goods out West; gave me best satisfaction." 

If any of the firm of Sweet, Orr & Co. sees this, I, 
wish to congratulate you as makers of the best cor-( 
duroy and overalls ever used by man. I admire your 
button and band fasteners, also. As these are the 
only factories we have ever been allowed to visit, we 
feel more pleased at our reception. Other factories 
have said, "No, your notoriety would cause all hands 
to stop and look at you, and that means loss." Al- 
though when we were conducted through their sewing 
room 500 operators stopped and looked at least a 
minute each, making a loss of over eight hours, not 
one word of complaint was heard. The hands seemed 
satisfied, and said their success was also due to their 
kind treatment by the firm. Dealers in the goods say 
the firm is honest and square dealers. ' 

We wish you all of your well-earned success. 

Yours, M. E. A. LASLEY, 

Laborer, traveler, author and proprietor of the only 
House on Wheels. 



PIONEER LIFE IN THE WEST, 



SYNOPSIS: 

Home Surroundings in Ohio^Westward Ho — Stage Ride on 
Foot in the Heart of the Rocky Mountains— Mountain Scen- 
ary— Fight with My Mill Boss— Captured by Women— Love 
Affairs — The Surrender— At an Indian War Dance— The Cap- 
tured — The Victor — First School and How I Came to Be 
Known as the Fighting Teacher — At School — Teamster — 
Range Life— Herder, Mill Life, Office Work, Secret Service, 
Hunter, Guide. Mechanic, Merchant, Manufacturer. Traveler, 
Camp Life on the Plains Among Indians — The Girl I Left Be- 
hind Me — The Mormons; Their Social Life — How I Became a 
Cynic, an Adventurer, a Farmer — My Last Love Scene — At 
this stage is where really the history commences that is 
included in book. Across America in the Only House on 
Wheels. This book (Pioneer Life in the West) shows how a 
bright, intelligent young man can adapt himself to all things, 
in all places; tells what the West really is, and what a per- 
son must be to succeed well. The book is written in Western 
stj^le original with me, with our Western phrases. The 
writer spent 22 years west of the Mississippi River. 

Our books are sold with a guarantee to please. 

Buy and read a copy; learn of true Western life. 

M. E. A. LASLEY, Author. 
Prop. House on Wheels Publishing Co. 
Address Gen. Del.. New York City, N. Y. 



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